Rijlaars van een rijkostuum c. 1934

These riding boots from a rich costume were made by Franssen, but we don’t know exactly when. What I love about looking at these is thinking about how the maker worked with the material – the leather. The boots have a kind of sleek, but also slightly worn surface, don't they? Like they’ve seen some action. Look at the way the light catches the creases and curves, especially around the foot. You can almost feel the suppleness of the leather, how it molds and shapes with wear. I'm reminded of Manet's paintings, the way he captures the sheen of fabric or the glint of light on a polished surface. There's a similar attention to the material world here. These boots aren't just objects; they're full of potential stories. And that's what makes them so fascinating.