Pair of high heeled women's shoes of brocaded silk. Leather sole and heel, uppers of brocaded silk and the heels covered with silk damask. Trimmed with silk ribbonLabel for the exhibition Shoes: Pleasure and Pain
The Powerful Mistress
Madame de Pompadour was the official mistress
of King Louis XV and a leader of fashion. She helped to popularise this style of shoe in which the heel is placed directly under the instep. The sensuously curving and precariously high 10.5 cm heel made the foot look petite but it also made the wearer totter dangerously, as it gave no proper support.
Pompadour’ shoes
1750–60
France
Brocaded silk, silk damask and leather; silver and pastes (glass)
Given by Messrs Harrods Ltd
V&A: T.423&A-1913 (shoes); T.437&B-1913 (buckles) [2015-2016]F, brocaded silk, 1760s, English
F, brocaded silk, 1760s, EnglishThis pair of women's shoes is notable for their sensuously curving French heels. The style was called ‘Pompadour’ after Madame de Pompadour, mistress of the Louis XV. The heel, placed directly under the instep, made the foot look small. This was considered highly desirable, but it also made the walker totter dangerously as it gave no proper support.
The uppers are covered in brocaded silk from Lyons, dating from the 1730s, and the heel in silk damask. The shoes have a small buckle fastening.