Pattern Shoes, England, 1870s

These rare handmade sample shoes, dating to the 1870s, are a charming and historically significant example of Victorian English footwear, likely produced in the small shoe factory of Jesse Thompson in Bingley. Created as pattern shoes for traveling merchants, they were used to showcase the latest shoe fashions to clients in rural areas—an elegant blend of craftsmanship and commercial ingenuity.

Made from fine leather, each shoe features three original buttons and a compact silhouette, with a sole length of approx. 16 cm, suggesting their use as display models rather than wearable items. The leather soles show some scuff marks, consistent with handling and age, but the shoes remain in very good condition, retaining their structural integrity and period charm.

This rare pair of Victorian sample button shoes is ideal for collectors of antique footwear, English fashion history, or museum-quality promotional artifacts, offering a tangible link to the marketing traditions and artisanal excellence of 19th-century Britain.