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1985.51.124

Carved miniature high heeled "lucky" shoe. Decorated with floral and geometric designs inlaid in non-ferrous grey metal. [SM 20/01/2011]

1985.51.124

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Carved miniature high heeled "lucky" shoe. Decorated with floral and geometric designs inlaid in non-ferrous grey metal. [SM 20/01/2011]
Person
Field collector Edward Lovett
PRM source Wellcome Institute
PRM source Wellcome Historical Medical Museum
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1926
Date collected
By 1926
Acquisition information
Transferred: 1985
Materials and processes
Material Wood Plant, Material Metal, Process Carved, Process Inlaid, Process Incised
Dimensions
Height: max 45 mm, Width: max 24 mm, Length: max 85 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1985.51.124 Other numbers: R 14161/ 1936 A 51886 R 11779 K AM C
Associated publications
Illustrated in colour in the pamphlet accompanying the Reading Room displays at the Welcome Collection with the caption “High-heeled shoe Wood and inlaid metal UK RRa0265.1985.51.124 Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.” [FB 15/8/2016] Illustrated in colour on page 200 in ‘Reading Room Companion consisting of a rare and valuable collection of diverse curiosities acquired by and for Henry Wellcome with a great variety of books’ Written and compiled by Anna Faherty published in 2014 by the Wellcome collection, London. Illustrated alongside 1985.51.142, .170, .122, and .152 with the caption “Shoe amulets and Charms Pitt Rivers Museum Since at the least the fourteenth century, single, worn shoes have been concealed in English buildings, often near the fireplace or chimney, as a protection against evil forces and bad luck. “Of all objects which in any way appeal to the imagination from the point of view of superstition, or sentiment, or what you will, there is nothing stronger or so directly forcible as a shoe. Its symbolism, as well as its delightful sentiment, is so simple, so logical, and yet so full, really of poetry, that it appeals to all...” Edward Lovett in Magic and Modern London, 1925” [FB 15/8/2016]

Search terms: Religion, Clothing Footgear, Amulet, Shoe