18th Century Embroidered Shoes

When we’re looking at 18th century embroidered shoes, we should understand that the embroiderer isn’t necessarily the subsequent owner/wearer of the shoe. Customers could purchase “embroidered Shoes for Ladies” from Margaret Hunter in Williamsburg (The Virginia Gazette, July 9, 1772), “callimancoe embroidered Shoes” from A. and I. Plenderleaths of Edinburgh (The Edinburgh Advertiser, December 17, 1776), and “embroidered Shoe vamps” from Homaſſel, Richards & Co. in Philadelphia (Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser, November 13, 1783). Mrs. Pignerolle (who taught “LADIES of Faſhion” how to do tambour embroidery) also sold “the greateſt Choice of embroidered Shoes of all Kinds” (The Public Advertiser, December 3, 1766).

A list of items stolen from “a Gentleman’s Houſe near St. Mary Ax” in London included “a Pair of blue Sattin Shoes embroidered, one Yard and a half black Sattin embroidered for Shoes” (The Public Advertiser, September 1, 1762).

Additional Resources

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Shoephoria! The history of footwear – in pictures

Treasures Afoot: Shoe Stories from the Georgian Era

Embroidery patterns

Newspaper advertisements listed embroidery patterns for shoes, among other goods for sale; Philadelphia examples include Tench Coxe (“Shoe Patterns,” Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser, March 21, 1782); Terraſſon Brothers & Co. of Philadelphia (“Ladies embroidered Shoe patterns,” Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser, June 12, 1783); Severin Erichſon of Philadelphia (“Embroidered Shoe patterns for Ladies,” The Pennsylvania Journal, November 5, 1783).

V&A E.3403-1932, from Kunst-und Fleiss-übende Nadel-Ergötzungen, 1725

V&A E.1152-1933, from Fortgesetzter Kunst- und Fleiss-übender Nadel- auch Laden-Gewirck-Ergötzungen oder des neu-erfundenen Neh und Stick Buchs Anderer Theil, 1742

Beautiful Pattern for Working Lady’s Shoes, The Lady”s Magazine, October 1772

Two new Patterns for Shoes, The Lady’s Magazine, April 1775

Two New Patterns for Shoes, The Lady’s Magazine, April 1776

New Patterns for Shoes, The Lady’s Magazine, November 1776

New Patterns for Shoes, The Lady’s Magazine, March 1778

New Patterns for Shoes, The Lady’s Magazine, 1780

A New Pattern for Shoes, The Lady’s Magazine, March 1780