Dominic Winter Auctions
Lot 763
* Miniature. A pair of tiny Eskimo shoes, circa 1855, hand-stitched sealskin Inuit boots, rubbed, and with some small holes, 4.5 cm (1.75 ins) long, with a manuscript note in black ink pertaining to their history, contained together in a later mosaic work box, together with:A straw boater trade sample, Lincoln Bennett & Co., Sackville Street, Piccadilly, London, early 20th century, small straw boater hat, trimmed with wide black grosgrain ribbon terminating in a bow at one side, maker's name printed on inside, height 7 cm (2.75 ins), width 15 cm (6 ins), length 18 cm (7 ins),Gentlemen's shoes cobbler samples, circa 1930s, 2 hand-made miniature lace-up leather shoes for men (laces partly lacking), one of brown leather with cap toe, the other of black leather, the former containing a wooden last, and other miniature items, comprising: a pair of miniature football boots, each annotated on sole 'E.J. 1959'; a pair of miniature leather clogs (lacking laces), length 8.5 cm (3.25 ins); a pair of miniature black boots; a pair of Victorian or Edwardian child's leather clogs with wooden and metal soles, length 15 cm (6 ins); 3 small purses; 3 dolls' hats; and a souvenir miniature wooden last from Italy, lettered 'Brunate'QTY: (21)NOTE:Rare survival of a pair of miniature Eskimo shoes which have a touching history, according to the accompanying note: 'Model of Esquimaux shoes (actually water tight) often attached to the dress of the mother in memory of a departed child. Procured when Grandfather (E.A.W.) was a missionary in Hudson's Bay district, 1855 (circa).'Prestigious London hat makers Lincoln Bennett were the leading maker of gentlemen’s headwear in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They supplied hats to members of the royal family and were said to have covered more aristocratic crowned heads in their time than any other firm in the world. Between 1876 and 1893 they won various gold medals at exhibitions in Philadelphia, Paris, Sydney, Melbourne, Calcutta, Adelaide, London and Chicago.
