Americana & Folk Art
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Peggy McClard Antiques Americana & Folk Art |
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This is a wonderful pair of 19th century lady's shoes from Henry A.
Penniman & Co. in Boston. These wonderful survivors are handmade
with no right or left foot (i.e. both shoes made on the same mold),
leather soles and wood heels. The interior is partially kid
leather and partially linen. The uppers are brown leather,
decorated with openwork lined with silk and a contrasting stitching.
Steel beads are stitched along the tops in the shape of buckles filled
with bugle beads (bugle beads are longer than they are thick, creating a
tubular shape). Bugle bead decoration covers the tops of the
shoes. Tiny white bows line the top edge of the shoes. The
shoes are square-toed which date them circa 1840-1870. The leather
of these shoes are in good, supple condition. The cotton edging
that runs along the top edge of the shoes is frayed and missing in some
areas. Some of the white silk ribbons on the top edge are missing.
There are sewn repairs to the edges on one shoe next to the bow.
The steel beads on each shoe show a tiny bit of rust and the silk lining
of the openwork areas has some shattering which exposes the linen
underneath. Despite these apologies, we must remember that shoes
were expensive in the 19th century and, by all but the most wealthy,
they were worn, repaired, reshaped, and worn until they could not be
worn anymore. These shoes were special enough to have been in a
museum collection--the collection labels can be seen on the bottom of
each sole and sewn into the lining of each shoe. You just don't
find these early shoes in much better condition unless they have been
restored--and these could be restored. These American shoes bear a label on the inner sole of Henry A. Penniman & Co. in Boston. My research shows that Penniman was born around 1804 in Massachusetts. He listed himself in Boston business directories as a merchant of goods since at least 1821. In the 1845 Boston Directory, Penniman is listed as a dealer in shoe stock. In the 1849 Boston Almanac, he is listed as a leather dealer (and possibly a boot, shoe & leather dealer). In the 1850 and 1851, the Boston directories also list him as a dealer of leather and shoe stock. By the 1880 Federal Census, Penniman had retired, listing himself as a retired merchant. These are a really special document to American fashion history. (#4912) $295 |
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peggy@peggymcclard.com with
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Copyright © 2011 Peggy McClard Antiques
