Evening pumps
While mass-produced shoes have filled the footwear needs of most of the population for over a century, custom made shoes have continued to be an option for those wanting - and able to afford - special attention to their own preferences in design, materials, and fit. This pair of custom pumps features classic lines, a heel with an elegant and refined shape, and gold braid on the vamp adding a lively touch. While the graphic ornamentation suggests a date of about 1920, the construction techniques and conservative design could be found at any time from 1900 to the 1930s. This upper pattern, with the quarters continuing as a narrow collar around the throat, was called the "regent pump", a basic slipper cut which was used quite commonly (in various variations called "full regent", "split regent", and "three-quarter regent", according to the placement and number of seams in the quarters) from the 1910s to the 1950s.
Artwork Details
- Title: Evening pumps
- Designer: Francis O'Neill (American)
- Date: 1920
- Culture: American
- Medium: leather, metal
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Frederick H. Prince, Jr., 1967
- Object Number: 2009.300.1583a, b
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Francis O'Neill
ca. 1898
Paul Poiret
ca. 1919
House of Balenciaga
Demna Gvasalia
spring/summer 2017
Multiple artists/makers
spring/summer 2017
Lanvin-Castillo
Antonio del Castillo
1956
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.