Women's Slippers, about 1800

Slippers first acquired ribbons in the 1790s in imitation of the classical sandal; pictures of them around 1800 show elaborate methods for tying them around the leg. Acknowledging their origin as a blend of slipper and sandal, the Lady's Magazine of January 1802 called them "sandal slippers" and reported that they were worn "in the morning by the pedestrian fashionables." At this early date, neither the pattern of lacing nor the presence of ribbon ties was the standard. Some surviving examples, …

Morning Dress, 1780-1795

Vest, about 1790

A rare survival of a winter or fall waistcoat used for hunting or sporting underneath a jacket.It seems likely the bright red color was akin to the orange vest used by hunters today.An expensive piece and few have survived.

Mourning Pendant, 1795

It is difficult to read the inscription on the monument but it appears to be Halston while some say it is Balstun.These mourning lockets and other mourning pieces are particularly popular from 1750-1820.These memorialized the deceased and generally included a lock of their hair. This piece also seems to include the hair of a living family member as well.Sometimes the hair of the dead was dissolved and used to help paint the memorial scene.This image includes weeping willow trees, which were ofte…

Man's Pocketbook, about 1745-1795

Made by a woman for a man to hold personal items.

Women's Shoes, about 1800

These are one of the few pairs of 18th century women's shoes in our collection. The extremely pointed toes, small "Italian style" Louis heel, metallic braid and sumptuous trim indicate a late 18th to early 19th century date. These are expensive shoes made for an affluent woman of taste.