In Other Shoes – Russian Velvet Boots

One of the true mysteries in Tuxen’s collection where these boots, which actually turned out to be socks!

Read Tuxen’s own notes and reflections on the pair here:

Russian velvet boots. Bought for me at the price of one pound, by antiquarian P. Kinch, during his visit at a Russian family in London. The velvet is red and of a quality showing that the family were right in claiming the boots to be from the 18th century. The sole is of a strange, to me completely incomprehensible, shape – very narrow in the middle, parted in two, maroon in the front and green in the back.

For what purpose might they have been used?

On the inside the shafts are covered by saffian-skin, partially worn down. According to Holger Rosenberg they are tartar boots, to be inserted into the shoes that are taken off when entering a mosque. In other words, they are socks!

If you are also into shoes, you can read more about Tuxen’s collection in this post.

// Ciara Coogan