Wedding slippers
Unknown Artist
1880
Medium
leather
Classification
Wedding Slippers
Culture
American or European
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Albert E. Peirce, 1944
Accession Number
C.I.44.59.22a, b
Art Historical Context
These delicate wedding slippers, crafted from fine leather around 1880, offer a glimpse into the bridal fashions of the late Victorian era. Likely American or European in origin, they exemplify the era's emphasis on elegance and modesty in women's attire. Produced by an unknown artisan, the slippers would have been worn by a bride on her wedding day, symbolizing purity the transition to married life. Their survival as a gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1944 from Mrs. Albert E. Peirce their value as cherished family heirlooms. Leather as a medium was prized for its durability and ability...