Shoes

Unknown

1840–49 · leather · Costume Institute

Owing to their diminutive cuteness and sentimental connection to purity and innocence, baby shoes survive in family collections in great number. Although arresting to modern eyes, the original strong color, perfectly preserved on this pair of shoes, was not particularly uncommon in the 19th century. It is precisely this quality of surprise to current expectations (along with the very good general condition) that make these shoes of interest in a museum context.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1840–49

Medium

leather

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of The Jason and Peggy Westerfield Collection, 1969