Shoes

Unknown

late 18th century · leather · Costume Institute

While the lovingly embroidered baby caps and christening gowns and adorably diminutive booties of infants are preserved in great quantity, garments for older children seldom survive in a good state or preservation. This scarce pair of 18th century child’s shoes incorporates the pointed toe and tongue found in fashionable women's styles, combined with the flat heel suitable for a child. It is not clear from the cut whether these shoes would have been worn by a boy or a girl, but the bright color is more suggestive of feminine dress.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 18th century

Medium

leather

Culture

European

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Herman Delman, 1954