#2079 $1,950 Sold
Gentlemen's embroidered wool shoes/slippers, c.1835-1850
Each of these extraordinary slippers was likely made with two different colored pieces of wool. The back of the brown shoe is still black. If the shoe on the right only (originally all black?) had been left out in the air, fading would not have changed the color to brown, since the embroidered strawberry design is still the same bright color on both shoes.
Alternatively, perhaps the brown wool on the front of one slipper did not fade (oxidize) to brown but was actually black wool that became brown because of unstable dye. Then why didn't any other piece of black wool in the slippers change to brown? Because only this one piece of black wool came from a particular bolt of fabric that had unstable dye.
The most likely explanation, however, is the simplest (Occam's Razor in logic). A rural craftsman used whatever materials were at hand. Thus, the front of the right shoe was brown wool at the outset.
Whatever the reason for the brown/black contrast, the slippers are a fine example of American folk art. The exuberant strawberry decoration deviates from the traditional rules of proportion. This can be seen in the second picture from the bottom.
The larger-than-life effect of the design is reinforced by a second technique. The strawberries are raised above the surface with thick padding. The anonymous artisan created a design that is alive with energy.
The slippers are lined with kid leather—black in back and tan in front. They have leather soles and insoles as well as stacked leather heels.
The condition is almost excellent. The shoes show normal signs of wear.
The shoes are 11" long.
