Indian Moccasin Tape Measure on Postal Card #003
This shoe was in the original collection of Lillian P. Wood and was a 1959 acquisition, a gift from close friends, Bessie and Winnie Zeman. The Zemans frequently purchased gifts of miniature shoes for the collection.
This is a multi-purpose shoe. The moccasin is attached to a postal card which measures 3 1/8″ by 1 11/16″, and could be sent as is through the United States Post Office. The moccasin is made of very soft, natural color leather and is sewn with red decorative thread. The shoe doubled as a pin cushion and a tape measure. The tape measure is white cotton, retractable and measures to 36 inches with a marking on it – JAPAN. The tape measure is pulled by a metal tab located on the right side of the heel. The pin cushion is extremely dense and covered with a cordedmaterial which has never been used as a pin cushion.
The postal card reads “This can be mailed anywhere as it is without wrapping or folding” PLACE POSTAGE HERE made in Japan. There are spaces for to and from addresses. Lillian Wood wrote “Winnie and Bessie Zeman July 1 – 1959″ on the card. The postage rate to mail this card (and also letters) in the States was 3 cents at that time.
This photograph shows the moccasin slightly larger than it is.
A close-up of the simple hand beading and hand stitching. This moccasin was made in Japan and beads of minimal quality and pattern compared with decorative moccasins hand constructed in the United States.
This is the back of the postal card. It reads INDIAN MOCCASIN TAPE-MEASURE Just pull me out and you will know ~ I’m a tape measure and hold pins to sew.
This type of postal card is unusual, and then to have a miniature shoe attached is extra-ordinary for a collector. I have only seen four of these postal cards in 15 years scouting antique stores, etc. and I do have a second card with an attached cowboy boot. Since the above shoe has a fully functioning retractable tape measure and unused pin cushion, it’s value is estimated between $50 and $65 dollars.
Sorry if it’s not a politically correct shoe. It’s 50 years old. It’s an old thing. It doesn’t know any better. But I do. I apologize now if it offends anyone. That is not the intention of this post.
Japanese Blue-Eye Dragonware Shoe #002
Dragonware is a type of Japanese pottery that has an embossed or raised Oriental dragon design on a background of multiple gradations of gray. The pottery’s embossed designs are made with moriage, a slip that gives a 3-D appearance. This is the approximate size of the shoe in the collection.
Dragonware pottery is a popular design in functional pieces such as dinnerware, tea-pots, vases, trays and incense burners, less commonly seen in purely decorative items such as miniature shoes. Interesting to note, this Japanese pottery shoe was designed in the shape of a typical Dutch shoe.
The dragon’s detail shows the typical blue eyes and pink tongue which complement the grays, though the technique indicates a production date in the 1950s, as does the silver/black paper label reading MADE IN JAPAN. The style was introduced in the 1890s and the early specimens are more delicately crafted and have a red potter’s stamp for identification.
This shoe is from the original collection of Lillian P. Wood and was purchased by her. As was her custom, she wrote on the heel of the shoe ‘bus trip’ and on the sole she wrote in very light pencil ‘St. Louis, June 8 1955.’ The original price is indicated on the bottom ~ $1.79.
Even the best quality of dragonware is quite inexpensive and this specimen is not ‘best quality’ though it is an interesting piece. Considering the china is an unusual shape (Dutch-Japanese?) without any chips, cracks or crazing and the paper label is affixed, it’s estimated value is $15.00 to $20.00.
Information from personal papers.
Traditional Dutch Shoe with Rosemaling #001
A hand carved, traditional wooden shoe, it was made in Norway and hand painted in the Scandinavian folk art of rosemaling. This rosemal decorative painting is done in a traditional pattern using typical colors of reds and blues, with a flower as the focal point and S- and C-shapes to accent the flower. It is signed by the artist H. Halheim, as seen on the photograph. Shoe is the actual size as shown, 4″ long x 1 5/8″ wide x 1 5/8″ high. A label on the sole says MADE IN NORWAY.
This shoe was a part of the original Lillian P. Wood Collection. It was purchased in 1978 from Scandinavian Designs, a gift shop in Fish Creek, Wisconsin located on the Door County Peninsula. It was given to Lillian P Wood for a gift on her 77th birthday by BP and RM.
Although this is a new shoe, it is of interest due to the quality of the original folk painting and signature of artist. Purchased for $22.00, nearly 30 years ago, its estimated value is now $35.00 to $40.00.
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