Shoes in Miniature

This baby bootie is made of Vaseline glass which was discussed in length in the following post. http://shoeboxes.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/vaseline-glass-the-magic-glass/

This shoe is an acquisition of the Lillian P. Wood Memorial Collection. It is 4 1/8″ x 2 1/2″, has a ribbed vamp (upper) and two flowers at the front opening. The rest of the shoe is in a very small, finely cut diamond pattern and their is ribbing on the back.

There are three varieties of this shoe known today. The above shoe, maker unknown, has a very wide round toe and the overall opening is the largest of the three. The original shoe was made circa 1886 by the Duncan Company. It has a point at the toe and the opening is the widest of the three known types of shoes. Some Duncan booties are marked PAT’D. OCT. 19/86 on the sole. This bootie was made in crystal, amber, blue and Vaseline. The second manufacturer known was the Fenton Glass Co. of Williamstown, WV. They made the booties in 1938-39 in several colors including Vaseline. The bootie was made again in the 1950 through 1970s, but not in the Vaseline color.

Detail of the two flowers at the front opening of the shoe. Ribbed back with detailed diamond pattern on the back of the sides. The sole of the shoe has a large open toe with solid closed heel.

Estimated date of manufacture is circa 1930s.  This shoe was purchased at Bloomington Antique Mall in Bloomington, IL in July of 2001 for $55.  Estimated collector value is $70.
Information from Shoes of Glass and Shoes of Glass, 2 by Libby Yalom, published by The Glass Press, 1989. This book has a very clear description of the three manufacturers of this shoe and a photograph showing the varieties and specifications of the different soles.  A photograph of this shoe is on page 74 of Wheatley’s first book.