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A rare and important 19th-century family wedding keepsake: a pair of Victorian bridal slippers preserved within a 1930\'s gift shoe box and accompanied by multiple handwritten notes of provenance.
These slippers are museum-quality not only for their remarkable state of preservation after more than 165 years, but for the documented two-generation provenance that accompanies them. Very few examples of Victorian bridal footwear survive with both the original wear dates and the full names of the brides recorded, making this set highly sought after by collectors of Victorian costume, social history, and ephemera. Beyond their delicate silk construction and graceful mid-19th century form, the detailed handwritten notes transform them from mere garments into a tangible archive of family and wedding tradition. Pieces of this caliber are rarely seen outside institutional collections, and they appeal equally to fashion historians, genealogists, and serious Victorian enthusiasts.
Wedding Slippers, 1857 & 1884
Worn by Martha McCaughrin Hood on her wedding day, December 10, 1857.
Later worn by her daughter, Augusta Letitia Hood Blake, on her wedding day, November 12, 1884.
Accompanied in a 1930\'s gift box with sailboat & moon motif, and multiple handwritten family notes recording the lineage.
Size 3.
The shoes were first worn by Martha McCaughrin Hood on December 10, 1857, and then again by her daughter Augusta Letitia Hood Blake on November 12, 1884. The notes and inscriptions list full names, marriage dates, birth/death years, and family lineage. This two-generation survival is exceptionally rare and offers not only a piece of Victorian costume but also a tangible link to family and social history.
The slippers remain in excellent condition for their age, with minor wear and expected age toning. The box is intact and bears a charming sailboat and crescent moon design on the lid estimated from the 1930\'s. Two handwritten notes accompany the set, along with the detailed writing inside the box lid confirming the family story.
Perfect for collectors of Victorian costume, bridal ephemera, or social history artifacts.
Date Worn: Dec 10, 1857 & Nov 12, 1884
Owners: Martha McCaughrin Hood & Augusta Letitia Hood Blake
Material: Silk (uppers), leather soles
Size: 3 (marked in notes, consistent with period sizing)
Box: 1930\'s gift box with sailboat & moon motif.
Condition: Shoes very good for age, gentle surface wear; box solid with light rubbing; inscriptions clear and legible.
“Perfect for Film, Theater, or Museum Display”
“Authentic 19th Century Costume Piece — Ideal for Stage or Screen”
“Rare Victorian Wedding Slippers — Collectors, Historians, and Prop Buyers Take Note”
“Ready for use as a Genuine Period Prop”
