Photograph: Brown leather shoe with a slash across the toe and along the side to make room for foot deformities.
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Shoe

Date: Mid 1300s

As well as telling us about changes in fashion, shoes can yield information about the health of the wearer's feet. This shoe dates from around 1350. It has been cut on the front and sides to alleviate the pressure on a foot deformed by both a 'hammer toe' and a bunion. The toes would have been bunched in a claw-like manner, whilst the bunion would have caused a large swelling on the side of the foot, below the big toe. In some cases wear on the sole of the shoe indicates how the wearer walked, if they limped or were 'pigeon-toed' (with the feet pointing inwards).

Accession number: BC72[250]<3777/1>

Place of collection: Baynard's Castle, Baynard House, Queen Victoria Street EC4 [City of London]

Material: leather

Measurements: Length: 235 mm; Height at ankle: 55 cm

Gallery location: Case 16.2

Related material

Subjects:

Dress
Health

Objects:

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