This is the first time that I ever produced a pair of shoes at a war. The only things not done locally were the patterning, cutting, last tailoring, and dyeing. Everything else was done at war, and I also had the most excellent privilege of teaching others as they walked by and asked questions. Some even came to sit down to learn to make stitching cords and how to close uppers. Because of the teaching sessions, I finished these about an hour before they were due, and didn’t even get a chance to photograph the finished products!
You’ll forgive me cutting out the modern tent and vehicle in the background, I hope. That’s the shoemaking table on the left, with the shoes in progress, and my music stand and cocktail box on the right.
I have been meaning to make a pair of viking shoes for the muse, the inspiration closest to my heart, Miss Sarah L. I also have the good fortune to present these in context, on the feet of the recipient as well! I dare say that they make the photo that much more compelling. In any event, these are out of Goubitz, 9th-10th C., from Vlaardingen. This type of decoration was very common on several examples, and there is a similar piece from Gdansk, Poland. This particular piece even had some remnant threads remaining in the leather.
A while back, over cocktails, a friend of mine mentioned what neat idea it would be to have a Viking chest that looked, for all intents and purposes, like a normal 6 panel Viking chest, but would unfold and unlock to have a cocktail bar inside. I agreed, and we continued the conversation, not really giving it a second thought. A few months later, he again brought up the subject, and when my friend Kelly brings up something twice, he really means to do it. With a couple of precious slow hours at work, I came up with what I thought was a rather clever design. It sure looks like a normal viking chest, doesn’t it? More below the cut…
I hosted a small workshop a couple of weekends ago, and both students came away with some beautiful shoes (that also happened to fit, the more critical part). One was a 1560s pair of pumpes, and the second was a pair of shoes based on the 9-10th century finds at York. You can tell from the smiles that both were very happy with their work!
Dedicated to the Research and Construction of Chopines, Pantoufles, Zoccoli, Shoes, Boots,and Other Raised and High Heels.
