By Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers
You can stand in the footwear of your forebears thanks to the discovery of an elegant pair of lady’s shoes from centuries ago.
With style, grace and a hint of Cinderella, an exquisite pair of Georgian era ladies shoes from circa 1760 arrived at Hansons’ Derbyshire saleroom following a house clearance.
I often say, ‘if history could talk what could it tell us?’ and I never cease to be amazed by objects like this. Coins are significant in being tactile but more so footwear which has walked through life and history.
The 264-year-old pair of lady’s shoes were likely made in England during the early part of the reign of George II and shout out Parisian elegance. Beautifully crafted and preserved, they are delicate objects of beauty which sweep us back in time.
They have a cream silk finish with latchets secured by a bright pair of rock crystal buckles. They are beautifully stitched with a plain floral sprig on the remnants of a silk front. An old label states they came from Scotland and belonged to a great grandmother who lived in the 18th Century.
Inevitably they show signs of wear commensurate with age but the high curved heel and paste stone buckles offer us a genuine glimpse of mid-18th Century European fashion.
They would have belonged to a wealthy woman of means as this was a time when most people in England worked the land and had no need for such dainty footwear.
Romantic novelist Jane Austen was born in 1775 and it’s easy to imagine these shoes adorning the feet of one of her characters in Pride and Prejudice.
Style is status and that has always been the case. Continental clothing, particularly from France and Italy, influenced the wealthy British elite in the 1760s. In that decade the sack-back gown or robe à la française was popular. Though women’s shoes and stockings were partially obscured by their generous gowns and petticoats, accessories were important components of an ensemble and luxury items in their wardrobes. Everything had to be just right, including footwear. But perhaps just a glimpse of those buckles emerged when skirts swirled at a ball.
Clothing and textiles invited for auction
Period clothing and textiles are invited for auction. To book a free valuation, email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
