MIJ Lustre Shoe with Clown #054
A beige lustre shoe with a minimalist clown figure on the last.
The shoe has the imprint JAPAN and a double diamond above the heel on the back of the shoe. There is an imperfection at this site in the ceramic – a factory imperfection, not a chip. (Factory imperfections do not lower the value of collector shoes). There are no cracks or crazing.
The shoe also has a stamp on the sole, simply JAPAN, in black ink.
Estimated date of manufacture, pre-WWII shoe. Estimated collector’s value is $40.00 – $45.00.
Information from Collectible Glass Shoes Second Edition by Earlene Wheatley, Schroeder Publishing Co., Inc. (2001) and personal interviews and papers.
Henriot Quimper Dutch Shoes #053
Information from Porcelain and Pottery Shoes by Anne Everset Wojtkowski, published by Schiffer Book for Collectors, Schiffer Books, Ltd. Atglen, PA. 2004 and a 2008 article in Wikipedia, Quimper Faience.
Elfinware Shoe #046
This slipper is Elfinware. It is a Dresden-like porcelain that was sold in dime stores and gift shops in the 1920s through 1940s.
The piece is decorated with raised flowers, blue forget-me-nots, a white rose, and tiny purple violets, and covered with highly textured green leafy “spinach” or “moss.”
The shoe measures 3 1/2″ long, 1 1/4″ high and 1 3/8″ wide. There are no chips or damaged flower/moss details.
The shoe is marked ELFINWARE GERMANY on the bottom.
Close-up of flowers on the upper (vamp)
The shoe measures 3 1/2″ long, 1 1/4″ high and 1 3/8″ wide. There are no chips or damaged flower/moss details.
This shoe is an acquisition of the Lillian P Wood Memorial Collection and was purchased in 1998 at auction for $30.00. The shoe’s current collector value is $65.00 to $80.00.
Information from the reference book, Collectible Glass Shoes by Earlene Wheatley, published by Schroeder Publishing, 2001 and Kobel.com. Other information was recorded from personal papers.
Ottawa Moccasins #043
These moccasins are unusually shaped and utilize three piece construction of pale, natural leather. There are tufts of rabbit fur on the toes of the shoes. The moccasins are pieced together with a tight machine sewn stitch.
They were purchased in Ottawa, Ontario in Canada and given to Lillian P Wood as a gift by Dr. and Mrs. Carl Lamb, her family friends. Purchased in the early 1940s. These are authentic miniature moccasins made for souvenirs by the Native Tribes.
Measurements for a single moccasin are 2 1/2″ in length, 1″ in height and 3/4″ in width. There are lined with cotton material.
These miniatures are 70 years old and in very good condition. They are well made, but the leather has discolored due to exposure and age.
Information obtained from personal papers.
Native American Moccasins #042
These cream colored moccasins with gray rabbit fur on the uppers. Simple scalloped bead work around the openings and at the base of the front flap. A ten bead cross is on each vamp. The beads are multi-colored and glass.
These shoes were purchased at the Rockefeller Center in New York City in 1944. They were given to Lillian P Wood by daughters from a train trip they took to NYC. The two girls, aged 18 and 22, were invited to NYC to attend a Ships’ Ball at the Hotel Astoria. According to private papers, the daughters were in a train car loaded with servicemen and so they took turns sleeping throughout the trip.
The moccasins each measure 3″ long x 7/8″ wide x 1 1/2″ high. They were made by Native Americans as souvenirs.
Unknown purchase price and origin. Estimated collector’s value is $25.00 to $35.00.
Native American Moccasins #041
This intricately beaded pair of baby moccasins from the Oglala Tribe Sioux in Pine Ridge, South Dakota was given to Lillian P Wood by Edith Keane. The two women were well acquainted as they were both members and Past Presidents of the Home Extension Services of Adams County in Illinois. The moccasins had been in the Keane family for over 50 years when they were gifted in the 1950s. circa 1880.
There are 17 rows of various colored glass beads on the vamps and tops, and 5 rows of white and brown beads in a pattern of crosses. Each shoe is approximately 3″ long, 1 3/4″ high and 1 1/4″ wide.
These are very fragile but intact, brain-tanned leather except for a 1/4″ tear on the left toe flap. Moccasins were originally tied together with sinew through pierced holes in each of moccasins but is only attached to one shoe now. Moccasins are stuffed with white wool. The shoes are constructed totally of soft leather and are sewn with throngs of hide.
These shoes in their current condition are valued at $120.00 to $150.00. Prices for Native American items at auction including many variations are found at http://www.livingstonandassociates.com/
There is further information about the Oglala Sioux at www.nativeamericans.com/Sioux.htm Information also from private papers and interviews.
Vaseline Glass – Comparison of Original vs. Reproduction
These shoes are #010 and # 011. Their full write-ups for each shoe are at the following posts. http://theshoecabinet.com/2007/12/12/vaseline-glass-slipper-miniature-011/ and http://theshoecabinet.com/2007/12/12/vaseline-glass-slipper-miniature-010/ on the left in the first photograph, is the original dating pre-1900. #011, on the right, is a re-production dating from the 1960s.
The differences are visibly apparent in all the photos. Above, the original has a clearer, less gaudy color and finer features when compared to the re-production.
This difference in detail and clarity of the glass is obvious. #010 on the right, #011 on the left.
This is a highly detailed and crisp rendition of a daisy and square pattern. Again the original shoe.
This shoe has less depth and sharpness in detail and the glass is thicker. This pattern is daisy and button. This shoe is the re-production.
Information was gathered from personal records, Collectible Glass Shoes by Earlene Wheatley, published by Schroeder Publishing, 2001 and Shoes of Glass 2 by Libby Yalom, published by The Glass Press, 1998.
Vaseline Glass Slipper – Miniature #010
This miniature Vaseline glass slipper measures 3 1/4″ long x 1 3/4″ high. The explanation about Vaseline glass and what it is can be found in the post https://shoeboxes.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/vaseline-glass-the-magic-glass/
This shoe, a typical yellowish-green color, fluoresces brightly under a ultra-violet light (U-V light) confirming that it is indeed Vaseline glass.
It has a solid heel and a solid toe, and is considered a salt cellar by salt collectors. They are often collected in sets of 6 or 8, each cellar a different color.
The shoe is pressed in the daisy and square pattern (most of this style shoe have a daisy and button pattern) and was made circa 1880s by George Duncan & Sons. It is easy to see the daisy shaped flowers and the small raised squares. The other pattern has very distinguishable buttons (circles) instead of the squares. They were originally made in blue, vaseline, crystal and some were ruby stained.
Although some of these shoes have a patent mark on the sole, this one does not. The earliest record of patent registration was October 19, 1886. Shoes made earlier than this have no mark. This particular style of shoe was listed for purchase in trade circulars and catalogs as early as 1884.
The sole is finely hatch marked and there is no overhang over the sole.
This shoe was an acquisition of the Lillian P. Wood Memorial Collection purchased at auction in November, 2007 for $40.00.
There is a second shoe in the collection that is a re-production, # 111, and a post comparing the two shoes is found at https://shoeboxes.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/vaseline-glass-comparison-of-original-vs-reproduction/
Information was gathered from personal records, Collectible Glass Shoes by Earlene Wheatley, published by Schroeder Publishing, 2001 and Shoes of Glass 2 by Libby Yalom, published by The Glass Press, 1998.
Vaseline Glass Baby Bootie #008
This baby bootie is made of Vaseline glass which was discussed in length in the following post. https://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.
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Shoes in Miniature 
