Cataloguing involves a close examination of each item. Recording the features of design, history, provenance, material, construction and dimensions are all part of the cataloguing process. Bringing new and important new works in to the collection is an important part of the Bata Shoe Museum’s mandate. This year the museum has been very fortunate to […]
Cinderella – The Glass Slipper Debate!
One of the last things you see before you leave the Bata Shoe Museum is a comment and suggestion box where we encourage people to share their thoughts on the things they’ve seen during their visit. One comment which we see on a regular basis relates to an area in our All About Shoes exhibition […]
From the Vault: Akan sandals
Take a peek into our 14,000+ collection with our new 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 dates to the middle of the 20th century. They were acquired by […]
Conservation Blog : A Slipper Fit for Cinderella
This bejeweled gold velvet mule with extended tongue/shin ornament was designed by Roger Vivier in 1964. It was purchased at auction by the Roger Vivier Archives in Paris, France and generously loaned for the entire run of the Bata Shoe Museum’s retrospective of the designer’s career Roger Vivier: From Process to Perfection in 2012. Side […]
Step into the Footwear of Royalty
By Creative Director & Senior Curator Elizabeth Semmelhack Associations between footwear and royalty are long standing. One of the most famous ancient Egyptian artifacts, The Narmer Palette from around 3100 B.C.E, depicts a barefoot pharaoh slaying an enemy of Egypt while his sandal bearer waits in the background holding his royal footwear. Sandal bearers in […]
The Height of Fashion: Conservation of a Pair of 17th Century Slap Sole Shoes
Slap sole shoes were developed in the early 1600’s as a means to protect the shoe from sinking into the ground. It featured a 2-part system where a shoe was slipped inside a flat sole mule (backless shoe). By the mid-17th century these two components had become integral and primarily a dress staple for the […]
20 Shoes to Inspire your Halloween Costume!
In celebration of Halloween in a couple of days, here is a list of 20 shoes that may just inspire your Halloween costume this year! 1) Astronaut This astronaut’s training boot from the Apollo Space Program were worn by Jim Lovell and are on loan from the National Air & Space Museum. 2) Disco Queen […]
From the Vault: Lancashire Clogs
Take a peek into our 14,000+ collection with our new 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 entered the collection in 1980. They were acquired in an antique shop […]
New Acquisitions: how we acquire objects and update our collections
At the Bata Shoe Museum, we are always collecting new artefacts. We have over 14,000 objects in our archives, and this number continues to grow. One of the most common questions we are asked by visitors is where do we get our shoes from? Most museum collecting begins with a colleting mandate, which is essentially […]
Ask a Curator with Elizabeth
Last month, our curatorial team participated in the global event, #AskaCurator. In case you missed it, here’s our Creative Director & Senior Curator, Elizabeth, answering some of your questions. As John Fluevog is celebrating his 50th anniversary this year, what would you say his impact has been on Canadian and global shoe design? John Fluevog’s […]