I thought I’d share some photographs with examples of how significantly textile dyes can change over time. In some instances, the original colour can only be discerned when an area of the shoe, not exposed to light, is examined. These shoes were purchased at auction in 1988; Belgian or French, 1710 – 1730. You can […]
From the Vault: A:shiwi (Zuni) Wedding Boots
Take a peek into our 14,000+ collection with our blog series, From the Vault! Every other week, we’re sharing interesting stories about one of our artefacts. What is the provenance of this pair? When did they enter the BSM collection? This pair of A:shiwi (Zuni) women’s wedding boots entered the collection in 1980 and was […]
Socks: Between You and Your Shoes
By Senior Curator Elizabeth Semmelhack Here in Canada the time of year has arrived when we add something to our wardrobes which have been absent for some months – socks! What is cosier than slipping into a pair of hand-knit socks. But socks are not just for warmth – for thousands of years, people around […]
Boots & Blades: The Research Continues
Manufactured by Douglas Rogers & Company in Norwich, Connecticut, this is a rarely seen example of a style emerging in the mid-19th century. We have three pairs that are of similar style. Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum. Image © 2021 Bata Shoe Museum. As we continue to work on the content and artefact selection […]
From the Vault: Sonja Henie’s 1950s Skates
Take a peek into our 14,000+ collection with our blog series, From the Vault! Every other week, we’re sharing interesting stories about one of our artefacts. What is the provenance of this pair? When did they enter the BSM collection? This pair of skates was originally worn by Norwegian Olympic gold-medal skater and celebrity Sonja […]
Assessing Fragility: Dyed Deerskin
People always ask me if there are any artefacts in the BSM collection that make me trepidatious when handling. The answer is: moccasins made with this rich dark brown colour of deerskin, achieved by immersing the cleaned skin in a different types of natural dyes. Each artist has their own method depending on regionally available […]
“Shoe Stories” Chronicle the Past
When looking at some of the intriguing artefacts in the Bata Shoe Museum, people are often curious to have more information then it’s possible for us to provide for each item on display – who did they belong to, what do they tell us about the historical period they came from, what is that shoe’s […]
From the Vault: 18th century English shoes
Take a peek into our 14,000+ collection with our blog series, From the Vault! Every other week, we’re sharing interesting stories about one of our artefacts. What is the provenance of this pair? When did they enter the BSM collection? The English shoes date to the 1760s. They were acquired by the Museum in 1995 […]
Boots & Blades: Research and Planning during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Behind the scenes at the Bata Shoe Museum these days, we are working on a virtual exhibition that will be called Boots & Blades: The Story of Canadian Figure Skating. Launching on Family Day in 2022, it will explore both the artistry and athleticism of this thrilling sport, from its early beginnings in the 1600s […]
Shoes in Action: What is Damage?
The beginning of the professional tennis season starts with the Australian Open in January. With that in mind, let’s explore a donation of Nike Challenge Court tennis shoes autographed by John McEnroe in 1984. He gave them to Mrs. Bata after a Players International Championship match she attended at the National Tennis Centre at York […]