Royal Provenance Lilac Silk Shoes by Oppermann & Co., Berlin, ca. 1867–1870

Museum-Quality Victorian Silk Shoes with Documented Royal Lineage

These extraordinary lilac silk shoes, dating to around 1867–1870, come with an exceptional and fully traceable royal provenance, aristocratic provenance, and collector's provenance. Their history begins with William Frederick Charles of Orange-Nassau (1797–1881), Prince of the Netherlands, and his wife Luise Auguste of Hohenzollern (1808–1870), Princess of Prussia. Their daughter, Wilhelmine Frederica Alexandrine Anna Louise Marie of Orange-Nassau (1841–1910), married Wilhelm Adolph Maximilian Carl zu Wied, the 5th Prince of Wied.

Royal and Collector's Provenance

Among their descendants was Wilhelmine Friederike Auguste Alexandrine Marie Elisabeth Luise zu Wied (1880–1965). Two years after her death, these shoes were auctioned at Christie's together with other garments and accessories from her estate. They were purchased on 11 July 1967 by the renowned collector Doris Langley Moore (1902–1989), one of the most influential private collectors of historic dress and the founder of the Fashion Museum Bath.

From Langley Moore's collection, the shoes later entered the celebrated archive of Helen Larson, the California-based collector, historian, and costume expert whose holdings have been featured in major exhibitions worldwide. Parts of the Helen Larson Collection were auctioned on 1 April 2018, which is how these remarkable shoes resurfaced.

Design and Craftsmanship

The shoes themselves are a rare and refined example of mid-Victorian luxury footwear, Victorian shoes, and 19th-century fashion. Made of exceptional lilac silk, they feature an open instep, two matching silk bows, and a light-coloured leather lining. Their elegant silhouette and delicate construction exemplify the sophistication of Victorian footwear produced for aristocratic and royal clientele.

Maker: Oppermann & Co., Berlin

The original maker's label reads: "Oppermann & Co. * 60 Unter den Linden 60 * Berlin", the full name being "Shoe and Boot Factory for Men and Women". Located on Berlin's prestigious Unter den Linden, the company supplied fine footwear during the height of the Victorian era. Unfortunately, as with many 19th-century ateliers, no further documentation of Oppermann & Co. Berlin has survived.

Condition

The shoes are in excellent condition, with only one small defect on the side, remarkable for their age and delicate silk construction. Their outstanding preservation further enhances their appeal as a piece of museum-quality fashion history.

Historical Significance

Their provenance suggests they may have been worn either by Luise Auguste, Princess of Prussia, or by Louise Marie of Orange-Nassau, making them an object of both royal history and European aristocratic heritage. Such direct associations with prominent members of European royalty are exceptionally rare in the market for antique shoes and historic costume.

A Rare Opportunity for Collectors

A rare opportunity to acquire museum-quality footwear with documented royal lineage, European royal provenance, and a distinguished chain of ownership through three of the most important collectors of historic dress, antique fashion, and Victorian costume. These exceptional antique silk shoes, combining royal provenance, outstanding condition, and impeccable collecting history, represent an important survival of 19th-century luxury footwear and Victorian fashion history.