Veelkleurig beschilderde schoen van faïence c. 1755 - 1890

This is a brightly painted earthenware shoe by Arie Blankers. The decoration of floral motifs and an ornate buckle evoke a world of fashion and status. The shoe, historically a symbol of wealth, gains new layers of meaning when rendered in earthenware, a material accessible to a wider populace. The floral designs painted with bright colors are reminiscent of Delftware, placing it within a Dutch tradition of craftsmanship. The heel hints at the shoe's potential wearer; this was a distinctly gendered object, created in a time when fashion signaled both social standing and identity. The art lies in taking an object of everyday life and elevating it through decoration, prompting us to reflect on the historical echoes present in something as simple as a shoe. It makes me think about the silent stories our possessions tell and the marks we leave behind.