Cast Iron Shoes
Cast Iron Shoes
- Description
- These cast iron shoes were probably worn by a chemist, and probably date from the 18th century. The donor believed they once belonged to the famous French chemist, Antoine Lavoisier. But, as there is no way to verify this claim, we value these shoes for what they can tell us about early French scientific and cultural history.
- Each shoe weighs over 1-1/2 lbs! There are rivets all around the top of the heels, sides, and insteps. On one shoe, some remnants of leather remain under the rivets. Whether this leather was strictly decorative or served some practical purpose is unknown.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- shoes
- Date made
- 18th century
- Physical Description
- iron (overall material)
- leather (overall material)
- Measurements
- shoe 2: 7.7 cm x 28.6 cm x 10.8 cm; 3 1/16 in x 11 1/4 in x 4 1/4 in
- shoe 1: 7.7 cm x 28.6 cm x 10.8 cm; 3 1/16 in x 11 1/4 in x 4 1/4 in
- overall; left: 3 in x 4 1/2 in x 11 7/16 in; 7.62 cm x 11.43 cm x 29.05125 cm
- overall; right: 3 in x 4 1/4 in x 11 3/8 in; 7.62 cm x 10.795 cm x 28.8925 cm
- ID Number
- CH.330783
- catalog number
- 330783
- accession number
- 299585
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. Edward M. Nagel
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Chemistry
- Clothing & Accessories
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Comments
How uncomfortable could those possibly be? Thank goodness for progress!
Nic
Thu, 2013-07-18 15:00
Imagine having to walk far in those shoes during the summer. There must have been a scientific reason for the chemist to wear them.
Claudia
Thu, 2013-07-18 14:59
Nancy
Fri, 2013-07-19 10:45