Clogs

Clogs

Description
These 19th century children’s clogs have a leather upper that is tacked to the wooden sole, with metal clog-irons (or calkers) around the heel and front of the sole. These type of clogs became very popular among mill workers in the 19th century due to their durability and easy repair. The clog irons were the ancestor of pattens that were worn as overshoes to protect the shoe from wear or damage. Permanently attached to the sole via nails that fit into a groove between the irons to protect the nail heads, iron could be replaced when worn down and save the wooden sole from wear.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
shoes, pair of
Other Terms
shoes, pair of; Footwear; Accessories Worn on the Body; Child
ID Number
CS.254720.001
catalog number
254720.001
accession number
254720
Credit Line
Eleanor Le Couver
See more items in
Home and Community Life: Costume
Clothing & Accessories
American Enterprise
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

It would be nice to know whether this is a pair made in the USA, or the whether clogs were made in Britain. There was trade in both directions. I have seen American advertisements for British clogs, and also advertisements in Lancashire for clogs imported from the States. Photographs might help to confirm where they came from, if the style is distinctive. There are links to Google Photos albums of photos of our clog collection on the Facebook page of Seven Stars Sword and Step Dancers. Have a browse. The photos can be downloaded and the albums shared.

Michael Jackson

Thu, 2020-11-12 09:00

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