Baby Shoes
Clothing/Dress/Costume
1910-1920
RE-CL-2026-0011
Shoes
Boots
Shoes
baby
child
1900’s
Boots
Unisex
Leather
Red
Orange
Leather: Soft, vegetable-tanned leather Hand-stitched gathered toe (classic early 20th-century baby construction) Natural aging consistent with 100+ years Silk Trim: Burnt orange silk ribbon, pleated and rosetted Silk (not cotton) indicates special-occasion shoes Color still remarkably strong for its age Sole Stitching: Visible hand stitching Flexible sole (crib use) No heel reinforcement — confirms pre-walker or early walker
circa 1910 – circa 1920
Asia
The handwritten ink inscription on the soles reads (with minor handwriting variation): “Baby Kathryn [surname unclear] first shoes 1919” Key points: Original period ink, not modern Written after wear, likely when the shoes were retired and saved Confirms exact year Confirms child’s name Confirms use as first shoes This kind of direct provenance written on the object itself is rare and highly desirable to collectors and museums.
Excellent
Jan 22, 2026
Description
Baby’s First Shoes United States, 1919 Leather, silk ribbon, ink inscription This pair of baby shoes was preserved as a family keepsake and inscribed with the child’s name and the date “1919,” identifying them as the wearer’s first shoes. Such objects were commonly saved to commemorate early childhood milestones. The survival of both shoes with their original silk trim and personal inscription offers a rare glimpse into domestic memory practices of the early twentieth century.