For the third time, I set the spotlight on some of the finest made shoes you can see today, a collection that Crockett & Jones made for a major international exhibition in 1911. Here I show off a number of models not displayed here before.
The shoes I showed earlier was samples featured in the Crockett & Jones showroom at the Northampton factory, and some others in the stores in London. Now I show some more of the shoes that can be found in glass cabinets in the two stores the brand has on Jermyn Street in London. Such great stuff as this are surely worth all the attention it can get.
The quality of factory-made shoes was excellent around the turn of the turn of the century, and many of the most talented craftsmen worked for the factories. C&J’s factory was one of the great ones also back then, and ahead of a major international craft exhibition in Turin, Italy, in 1911, it was decided they would make a serious effort to showcase its skills. A series of shoes made by hand, with the best leather they could get (at this time material quality was generally much better than it is today), made by their best at the various parts of the making. In other words, they are not representative of what C&J’s factory shoes looked like at the time, but showed what they were capable of.
Enjoy the amazing craftsmanship.
A magnificent derby boot, made to perfection.
The bottom, which has a very special solution for the sole stitching.
As you can see, the sole stitching seem to be sanded and sort of turned into a decoration.
The sole stitching from above, placed far out on the welt and in contrasting colour, for appearance. After all, these are all exhibition pieces.
This I’ve shown before but just in a couple of photos, it’s so good it can be displayed more.
Splendid last shape.
Another view.
The coarsely gimped edges are gorgeous.
Clean heel.
Super clean bottom.
Another favourite of mine, this spectator oxford with superb closing.
Closer look.
Sole.
A fancier black one.
Look at this welt finishing.
Back view, high shine.
This semi brogue oxford is one of the more scratched up samples they have, still magnificent stuff obviously.
A very asymmetric last and pattern.
Any bespoke maker offering something looking like this today would be praised.
Bottom.
Finish with a couple of women’s shoes from the same exhibition collection, with very fine make.
Clearly exhibition material.
Sleek…
…and slender.
Tight waist.
Very thin sole, with fine sole stitching.
Another cool women’s shoe.
Wow, just wow. Such beauty. A reminder of what great things a shoemaker can come up with if they’re not turning out cheap junk. Thanks, Jesper, those are great photos.
Robert Konshak: Cheers! Yes, amazing stuff for sure.
Interesting that they had a semi-brogue in 1911 – John Lobb have claimed that they created this in the 1930s…. (It is true that the example here has six eyelets rather than five, but that is scarcely essential. Also a reminder that this was common in English shoes at this time, although now more associated with American styles.).
Mike Sweetmore: Oh, that would definitely not be correct, and semi brogues were around also before 1911.