Pair of wedding shoes

Flat soled 'slipper' shoes were made with minimal variation for over 50 years. They were widely worn between 1800 and 1850, after which time they gradually fell out of fashion. They were not made to stand up to much wear, with their delicate fabric and thin leather soles. Shoes such as this would usually have been reserved for indoor wear, evening dress or special occasions. This cream silk satin pair has survived in pristine condition, and appears to have been barely worn, if at all. They are associated with the 1854 marriage of Elizabeth Wroughton Richards to the Reverend Andrew Nugée. The bride's wedding wreath also survives (see T.6-2008).

These shoes were made in Paris by a shoemaker called Chapelle. They would have been imported for sale in shops across Europe. This style of shoe, without left or right foot shaping, is called 'straights'. To assist the wearer, there are two small paper labels inside reading 'Gauche' (French for left) and 'Droite' (right).