Luxurious silk slipper with royal connection goes on display

A luxurious silk and leather shoe believed to have been worn by King James II is going on display at the Killerton estate in Devon, home to the National Trust’s largest collection of historic fashion numbering more than 22,000 pieces.

The slipper dates to the late 17th century and is made from fine-grained leather in a deep red color and gold silk brocade. The leather lines the inner sole and the broad block heels. The silk upper is decorated with a floral pattern woven in a blue-green thread. The colors have faded over the centuries, and would originally have been bright yellow and green. It was stitched to the sole with white thread. These open-backed shoes (mules) were typically worn indoors.

Research suggests the slipper may have been left as a royal gift during King James II’s stay in Coventry. During his visit, he was honoured with a banquet at the Guildhall and lodged nearby in what later became Palace Yard, a site destroyed during the Coventry Blitz.

It was customary for royal guests to leave gifts, often embroidered gloves. In this case, a pair of silk slippers may have been given. Only one has surfaced to date.

There is no incontrovertible evidence of a royal provenance. The slipper previously belonged to costume collector Paulise de Bush who bequeathed her entire collection to the National Trust after her death in 1975. A museum tag from the de Bush collection references the James II Coventry history, but does not document when or where Pauline de Bush acquired the slipper. The Trust is currently researching the slipper’s history, hoping to confirm that it was worn by James II.

This year’s History off the Hanger exhibition at Killerton focuses on pieces featured in the newly-published National Trust book 100 Things to Wear. The slipper is one of 10 pieces from the vast Killerton collection to appear in the book. The exhibition will also give visitors a glance behind the curtain to reveal how Killerton’s conservators preserve the objects in the collection.

* This article was originally published here