Antique Wooden Shoe Last c.1920
ABOUT
Price is per pair.
These are original pairs of cobbler's wooden shoe lasts used to make hand crafted shoes for a certain client. The shoe lasts were kept at the cobbler's shop for custom shoes when the client requested a pair. Many of the shoe last have the client's initials and size stamped on each pair. Both shoes have a cast iron hole on the top. They have retained their original finish and have the appropriate wear.
- CREATOR Unknown.
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DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1920
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MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Maple or Beech, Cast Iron.
- CONDITION Good. Wear consistent with age and use.
- DIMENSIONS H 4 in. W 12 in. D 4 in.
HISTORY
The last is the soul of a shoe. Apart from selecting the leather, there are few elements of the shoe making process that are more impactful on the end result than the crafting of a last. Originally hand carved by cordwainers, i.e. bespoke shoemakers, using hardwoods like maple or beech.
This pair was salvaged from a cobbler's shop in the Mission District of San Francisco. The shop was open from the 1920s and closed in 2018.
