Pair of white Capezio dance shoes worn by Cab Calloway

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A pair of white, Capezio dance shoes worn by Cab Calloway. The exterior upper shoe and tongue are constructed with white leather. The toe boxes are rounded. The shoes are double stitched around the outlines of the toe boxes and have a single seam down the center lines of the heels. The lace guards feature matching punched eyelets that are strung with flat, white, string laces. The heels are constructed from stacked leather held in place with metal nails. The shoes’ soles are constructed from tan leather and have black scuff marks. On the soles, nears both heels, is black, handwritten text that reads [Calloway]. Printed on the white insoles is gold brown text that reads [“ON-STAGE” / CAPEZIO], and, smaller text below reads [THE DANCER’S COBBLER SINCE 1887 / MAN-MADE INNERSOLE & SOCK LINING]. Next to the text is an illustration of a pair of ballet shoes on top of a foot stool.

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