{"product_id":"antique-wedding-shoes-1882-silk-bridal-shoes-with-double-bows-by-julien-mayer-paris-kate-rimer-provenance","title":"Antique Wedding Shoes 1882 – Silk Bridal Shoes with Double Bows by Julien Mayer, Paris, Kate Rimer Provenance","description":"\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWedding Shoes, 1882 – Silk with Double Bows \u0026amp; Julien Mayer Label, Kate Rimer Provenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context \u0026amp; Provenance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese charming \u003cstrong\u003ewedding shoes\u003c\/strong\u003e, worn by \u003cstrong\u003eKate Rimer\u003c\/strong\u003e at her marriage in \u003cstrong\u003e1882\u003c\/strong\u003e, are a beautifully preserved example of late‑Victorian bridal footwear. Made of \u003cstrong\u003esilk\u003c\/strong\u003e and adorned with \u003cstrong\u003etwo elegant bows\u003c\/strong\u003e across the instep, they capture the refined delicacy expected of formal shoes worn for a society wedding. The elastic that secures one of the bows has lost its stretch over time, yet the original design remains clearly visible and intact. The shoes are in \u003cstrong\u003every good condition\u003c\/strong\u003e, with only a \u003cstrong\u003esmall flaw\u003c\/strong\u003e noted — likely the result of age rather than wear. Their pristine state suggests they were \u003cstrong\u003eprobably worn only once\u003c\/strong\u003e, on the wedding day itself. Inside, they carry the gold‑printed maker’s label: \u003cstrong\u003e“Mayer Julien * A Paris”\u003c\/strong\u003e, linking them to one of the refined shoemakers active in 19th‑century Paris.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJulien Mayer – Parisian Shoemaker\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJulien Mayer\u003c\/strong\u003e was a Parisian shoemaker active during the \u003cstrong\u003e19th century\u003c\/strong\u003e, known for producing elegant women’s footwear at a time when \u003cstrong\u003eParis stood at the centre of European luxury fashion\u003c\/strong\u003e. His maker’s stamp — typically reading \u003cem\u003e“Julien Mayer, A Paris”\u003c\/em\u003e — appears on several surviving pairs preserved in museum collections, indicating a workshop dedicated to \u003cstrong\u003ehigh‑quality, refined craftsmanship\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShoes attributed to Mayer display the hallmarks of sophisticated French shoemaking of the period:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul role=\"list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003esupple \u003cstrong\u003ekid leather\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003esilk‑covered uppers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003egraceful \u003cstrong\u003eLouis heels\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecarefully \u003cstrong\u003ehand‑stitched construction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTheir narrow silhouettes and delicate detailing reflect the aesthetic of the \u003cstrong\u003eSecond Empire\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eearly Third Republic\u003c\/strong\u003e, when fashionable women sought footwear that complemented the elaborate dresses and social rituals of Parisian high society.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCraftsmanship \u0026amp; Cultural Setting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlthough little is known about Mayer’s personal biography, the surviving examples of his work suggest a clientele drawn from the \u003cstrong\u003ebourgeois and upper classes\u003c\/strong\u003e — women who purchased formal shoes for receptions, balls, and promenade dress. His workshop would have been part of the vibrant ecosystem of \u003cstrong\u003eParisian artisans\u003c\/strong\u003e supplying couture houses, department stores, and private dressmakers. In this context, Kate Rimer’s wedding shoes represent not only a personal heirloom but also a piece of Parisian luxury craftsmanship exported to Britain, reflecting the international reach of French fashion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSignificance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eToday, shoes bearing Julien Mayer’s name are valued as representative examples of \u003cstrong\u003e19th‑century French luxury footwear\u003c\/strong\u003e. They offer a glimpse into the refined craftsmanship and stylistic sensibilities that made Paris the international capital of fashion — and they position makers like Mayer among the respected artisans of their time. Kate Rimer’s 1882 wedding shoes, preserved with their bows, silk uppers, and original maker’s label, stand as a rare and intimate witness to both \u003cstrong\u003eVictorian bridal tradition\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eParisian shoemaking excellence\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique Gown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":62697033695619,"sku":null,"price":390.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0913\/1897\/6899\/files\/01-antique-victorian-wedding-shoes-1882.jpg?v=1790274759","url":"https:\/\/www.antique-gown.com\/products\/antique-wedding-shoes-1882-silk-bridal-shoes-with-double-bows-by-julien-mayer-paris-kate-rimer-provenance","provider":"ANTIQUE GOWN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}