One of the challenges of working with the BSM’s diverse collection is preparing shoes for long term storage since each style has its own inherent design issues. The museum acquired a collection of Chinese children’s booties with tassels that presented just such a challenge. These boots are made of silk satin with a cotton or […]
Upon Arrival: The Workspace
The first Collections Management blog in this series walked you through the process of a new acquisition coming into the museum and discussed how much care we take in the shipping, receiving and unpacking of new acquisitions. Now that the item is in the building and it is being tracked through its registration number, the […]
Q&A with BSM’s Curatorial Team
Get the inside scoop on how the BSM curatorial team put together The Great Divide: Footwear in the Age of Enlightenment. From the research process and choosing artefacts to exhibition design and acquiring loans! 1) How long is the planning process for an exhibition? The planning process for an exhibition can take between 1-3 years, […]
Conservation Blog: Monkey Business
In 1986 the BSM acquired at auction an automaton made in the 1880s at the famous Phalibois workshop in Paris, France. It features a monkey cobbler sitting at his workbench under a flowering tree. This artefact was selected for our previous exhibition, Fashion Victims: The Pleasures and Perils of Dress in the 19thCentury, thus providing […]
When Good Sneakers Go Bad
In 2013 the Bata Shoe Museum (BSM) organized an exhibition called Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture discussing the evolution of sneakers from sports footwear to fashion accessory. In examining the shoes before they went on display we noticed they were showing signs of active deterioration. Inherent vice is a term used […]
Upon Arrival: A Series on Collections Management
Museum’s are unusual places. Unlike most attractions offering education and entertainment like movie theatres and aquariums to the public, the Bata Shoe Museum not only offers four exhibitions for visitors to explore, but behind the scenes, it also keeps a collection of over 14,000 artefacts. The collection contains footwear that has been made, used and […]
BSM Volunteer Spotlight: Ray Wolanin
We wanted to highlight our volunteers in a new and exciting way! BSM Volunteer Spotlight showcases the incredible projects our volunteers have on the go. For our first spotlight, we are speaking with Ray Wolanin, who is one of our incredible front desk volunteers. We’d love our audience to learn more about you, tell us […]
Sea Me Now: Treatment of a Pair of Deep Sea Diving Boots
These deep sea diver’s boots were made in the 1920s by Siebe Gorman, a company originally based in London, England. They are made with a thick leather boot anchored by a heavy brass sole each weighing 8.2kg (18 lbs). The strap over the vamp is 4cm wide (1 ½”) with 2 narrower straps, 2cm wide […]
Working From Home Part 2
As physical isolation is still in place I’m continuing with treatments in my ad hoc conservation lab at home. The next artefact up for consideration is a fragment of 18thC chintz, a finely woven cotton fabric from Indian featuring a combination of hand drawn and dyed designs, which will be framed for display in the […]
Shoe Business: Art & Sole Academy
Today we are featuring Jennifer Allison from Art & Sole Academy to talk shoe business! What is your background? How did you make your way to the world of shoemaking? I initially studied Fashion Design at Ryerson University and during this time my specialty was evening wear. The thought of designing footwear had never crossed […]