Shoe sole from the Joseph Box collection
Object No. H4448-47
This sole from a boot or shoe featured in the Bethnal Green Museum Shoe Exhibition held in London, England in 1897. The sole comes from an important collection of footwear and shoemaking objects thought to have been initiated by the London shoemaker, Robert Dixon Box, and consolidated by his son, Joseph Box and the Box Kingham family during the second half of the 1800s. The collection ranges from remnants of leather shoes from the Middle Ages found in English archaeological sites, to intact European shoes from the 1600s onwards, 'foreign' shoes collected as 'curiosities' from around the world, shoe buckles, spurs and snuff boxes, as well as company documents relating to Joseph Box Ltd. The Joseph Box shoe company was an important London shoemaking business established in 1808 by a 'ladies shoemaker' called James Sly. From 1816 Sly's apprentice was Robert Dixon Box, the fifteen-year-old son of a bankrupted Quaker attorney. Box became manager of the business when Sly died in 1826, subsequently attaining a reputation for fine shoemaking through participation at international exhibitions and by obtaining Royal Warrants. The business became known as Joseph Box Ltd in 1862 after it was transferred to Robert's son, Joseph. Like his father, Joseph started in the trade at the age of 15, but retired at the relatively early age of 42 to enable his daughters to enter society. Although he transferred the business to his cousins the Box Kinghams in 1882, Joseph maintained an active interest in shoemaking through collecting. Some of the shoes in the collection feature a remarkable 20 stitches to the centimetre exemplifying the attention to detail and quality of workmanship Joseph Box shoes became renowned for. At the end of the century the business was later taken over by royal shoemakers Gundry & Sons, which was itself taken over by John Lobb Ltd some time after 1953. The Joseph Box collection provides a unique insight into footwear history, demonstrating how changes in contemporary attitudes, needs and etiquette directly affected shoe design. It also reveals the fine skills of shoemakers as well as the impact of scientific developments and technological innovations on the materials and construction methods. Reference: Mitchell, Louise, with Lindie Ward, 'Stepping out: three centuries of shoes', Powerhouse Publishing, Sydney, 1997
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Summary
Object Statement
Shoe sole, part of Joseph Box collection, mens, leather, maker unknown, England, c. 1610-1629
Physical Description
Sole, from boot or shoe, mens, leather, maker unknown, England, [c1610-1629] Single left mens boot or shoe sole possibly of single sole turnshoe construction, unusual for the 17th century, with square toe. Leather of the sole is grain up and features edge grain stitch holes with little shaping at the waist and almost straight. Shows evidence of repairs.
DIMENSIONS
Width
32 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
This sole from a boot or shoe was made in England and and featured in the Bethnal Green Museum Shoe Exhibition held in London, England in 1897 as exhibit 154k. Described as 'Sole of a boot; the holes for stitching are in an inclined direction form the middle of the edge of the sole, English 17th century, Box collection' and Bateman Collection N.1 98. The 1965 Box list indicates that the sole is 17th century. Footwear specialist June Swann suggests that from the shape and look of the sole, it may possibly date from the 17th century, however, it is unusual to find a single sole turnshoe at this date. She suggests it may be for a special trade, therefore from a shoe rather than a boot.
HISTORY
Notes
This sole from a boot or shoe, possibly uncovered during excavation work in London, is part of the Museum's significant Joseph Box collection and featured in the Bethnal Green Museum Shoe Exhibition held in London, England in 1897 as exhibit 154k. Described as 'Sole of a boot; the holes for stitching are in an inclined direction form the middle of the edge of the sole, English 17th century, Box collection' and Bateman Collection N.1 98. Joseph Box Ltd had its origins in a London shoemaking business established in 1808 by a 'ladies shoemaker' called James Sly. From 1816 Sly's apprentice was Robert Dixon Box, the fifteen-year-old son of a bankrupted Quaker attorney. Box was to become manager of the business when Sly died in 1826, and gained a reputation for fine shoemaking through its participation at international exhibitions and by obtaining Royal Warrants. The business became known as Joseph Box Ltd in 1862 after it was transferred to Robert's son, Joseph. Like his father, Joseph started in the trade at the age of 15, but retired at the relatively early age of 42 to enable his daughters to enter society. Although he transferred the business to his cousins the Box Kinghams in 1882, Joseph maintained an active interest in shoemaking through collecting. At the end of the century the business was later taken over by royal shoemakers Gundry & Sons, which was itself taken over by John Lobb Ltd some time after 1953. The collection acquired by the Museum in 1942 was probably started by Robert Dixon and consolidated by Joseph Box and the Box Kinghams during the second half of the 1800s. It includes remnants of leather shoes from the Middle Ages found in English archaeological sites, intact European shoes from the 1600s onwards, 'foreign' shoes collected as 'curiosities' from around the world, shoe buckles and spurs, as well as documents relating to Joseph Box Ltd. Footwear scholar, June Swann, former Keeper of the Boot and Shoe Collection at the Northampton Museum in England was invited to catalogue this very significant collection in 1993. A large selection was subsequently featured in the Museum's 1997 exhibition and accompanying publication 'Stepping out: three centuries of shoes'. REF: Mitchell, Louise, with Lindie Ward, 'Stepping out: three centuries of shoes', Powerhouse Publishing, Sydney, 1997
SOURCE
Acquisition Date
2 April 1942
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