Balmorals

Hurd Shoe Co.

1915–25 · leather · Costume Institute

The Balmoral boot, a design named for the Scottish estate purchased by Queen Victoria at the time when the style was first popularized, is distinguished by the whole vamp and ankle-high top with closed-tab lacing. While a buttoned version was preferred in the early 1910s, the lace-up Balmoral boot was the dominant style of men's day shoes of late 1910s to early 1920s. This pair from the collection exhibits the elegantly elongated and narrow shape particular to this date. Beautifully proportioned details complement the refined tone. These boots, which were retained as a sample and hence in excellent condition, were manufactured by the Hurd Shoe Company of Ithaca, NY during the period when the United States was the world leader in volume, variety, and size range of shoe manufacture.

Artist

Hurd Shoe Co.

Date

1915–25

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 Kenneth S. Hurd, 1959