Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Bronzed Baby Shoe, c. 1940s |
Object Name |
Shoe |
Description |
Bronzed Baby Shoe, c. 1940s. The shoe (right foot) and shoelaces is covered in a metallic bronze layer. The laces are curled around the side the shoe. On the front, top of the show there is a series of indents in an arch pattern, these appear to be intentional. The bronze layering on the underside of the shoe has worn off, exposing the layers which covered the shoe during the bronzing process. |
Date |
c. 1940s |
Creator |
American Bronzing Company, Columbus, OH |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
2017.008.031.3a |
Dimensions |
H-2.875 W-2 D-3.75 inches |
Collection |
3D - Clothing |
Inscription Text |
(none) |
Provenance |
Worn by JoAnn Semones |
Notes |
Baby shoe bronzing is a tradition that started in the 1930s as a way to preserve a baby's first shoes as keepsakes. The shoes can become Christmas ornaments, bookends, or be mounted on a souvenir plaque. The shoe is first coated in formulas that stiffen the shoe and allow the bronze or copper plating to stick, then the metal is applied via electroplating and polished again to finish it. The American Bronzing Company, founded in 1934, was the company that popularized the practice. As of January 2018 it has gone out of business. [http://www.familytree.com/blog/the-tradition-of-bronzed-baby-shoes/ https://www.americanbronzing.com/ 02/12/2018] |
Search Terms |
Baby Fashion Semones, JoAnn Shoe Shoes Souvenir |
Subjects |
Children's clothing & dress Keepsakes Shoes Souvenirs |
People |
Semones, JoAnn |
Credit line |
JoAnn Semones - Julia Barrow Collection |