Bootees
The exuberant embellishment of these two pairs of infant's booties expresses the style of 1890s, when rich ornament was featured in many areas of the decorative arts. Booties of this type would have been worn for presentation purposes, at a christening or some such important event. They are beautifully crafted throughout, including the lining, and feature decorative stitching at the toe seam and meticulously executed lace ruffles. The two pairs were worn by the same baby girl, demonstrating that our current rule of blue for boys and pink for girls was not yet codified at the turn of the century. Prior to this time, pink had been favored as a more vigorous color suitable for boys and blue as a passive color suitable for girls. Despite the ambiguous color coding system, the blue pair here does feature an external lacing rather than a ribbon bow, a simple bow knot in place of the rosette, and exclusion of embroidery, all elements which give the booties a more masculine appearance.
Artwork Details
- Title: Bootees
- Date: 1898
- Culture: probably French
- Medium: leather, silk, linen
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Cuyler T. Rawlins, 1959
- Object Number: 2009.300.1975a, b
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
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