Pumped: The Art & Craft of Shoemaking at Charlotte, NC's Mint Museum

Back in June I was in Charlotte and was able to see Pumped: The Art & Craft of Shoemaking, an exhibit on the art of shoe making at The Mint Museum.

The exhibit ran from May to August, so unfortunately it is no longer open. Still you can enjoy my pictures and what I learned.

These are silk shoes from the early 1700s. Like other shoes from the time, they were made so that each foot was identical.

These are silk boots from the mid-1800s. They are beautiful, but seem very unpractical, like they would get filth the minute you walked outside.

These are some of the tools used in shoe making. It reminds me of visiting the shoe making shop in Colonial Williamsburg. 

These shoes are from the 1860s and represent a return to embellished shoes. Hooped-skirts were becoming popular and allowed glimpses of the wearer's shoes.

These are slippers from the 1890s but both remind me of more modern styles.

These shoes which include clear plastic are from the 1940-60s but remind me of newer shoes, including Cinderella's glass slipper being re-imagined. 

If you thought heelless shoes were a thing of modern times, these are from 1955-1960.

And one of m favorite displays, the shoe on the left are Yves Saint Laurent haute couture while those on the right are a knock-off. While the look similar, the knock-off is slightly different to avoid copyright infringement. The original is made of leather and the punches are done by hand. The knock off is made of man-made materials and the punching was done by machine.

What do you think of the exhibit? Do you like art museum exhibits on shoes?

For more frequent updates, follow on twitter @throughthesole, become a fan on facebook, or follow us on Pinterest. Don't forget our Instagram account.

Related Posts:
Killer Heels: Art and Shoes Collide at the Brooklyn Museum
18th Century Shoemaking at Colonial Williamsburg
Cinderella's Glass Slipper Re-imagined

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
Can Shoe Color be Trademarked? The Signature Christian Louboutin Red Sole
“If the shoe fits, they’ll copy it:” Copyright and Fashion
Lady Gaga Shoes Sell Out

Tweet