OPPERMANN & Co. Evening Shoes, Princely House of Wied, ca. 1867-1870
Today, we would like to begin our description of these extraordinary shoes with a brief genealogical outline: William Frederick Charles of Orange-Nassau (1797-1881), Prince of the Netherlands, married Luise Auguste of Hohenzollern (1808-1870), Princess of Prussia. Their daughter, Wilhelmine Frederica Alexandrine Anna Louise Marie of Orange-Nassau (1841-1910), marries the 5th Prince of Wied: Wilhelm Adolph Maximilian Carl zu Wied. Among others, the following are born to the marriage: Wilhelmine Friederike Auguste Alexandrine Marie Elisabeth Luise zu Wied (1880-1965).
Two years after her death, these shoes are auctioned off at Christie's together with other dresses and accessories from her estate. They were acquired by Doris Langley Moore on 11 July 1967. Doris Langley Moore (1902-1989) was one of the largest private collectors of antique dresses. She founded the Fashion Museum in Bath, England, in 1963. Her collection, from which these shoes originate, was in turn purchased by Helen Larson. She lived in California. She was a passionate collector and a brilliant connoisseur of her profession, who earned her money with a costume rental business for films and theatre. Numerous high-calibre exhibitions of antique clothing and accessories worldwide can be traced back to her collection. Parts of Helen Larson's collection were auctioned off on 1 April 2018. That's how we came across these exquisite shoes.
The condition is excellent, the colour (lilac) exceptional. One small defect (on the side). Open in the instep area, two bows made of the same fabric, lined inside with light-coloured leather. Manufacturer's label: ‘Oppermann & Co. * 60 Unter den Linden 60 * Berlin’. The full name of the shop was: ‘Shoe and boot factory for men and women’. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, all traces of Oppermann & Co. are lost. We have been unable to find any further information. As we date the shoes to the years 1867-1870, they could have been worn by Luise Auguste, Princess of Prussia, as well as by Louise Marie of Orange-Nassau.
Price: 2.700 Euro
