Pair of opera pumps 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 size 9D black opera pumps worn by Cab Calloway. The exterior upper shoes are constructed with polished black leather. The top of the shoe is embellished with black ribbon bows. The toe boxes are rounded. The shoes have a single seam down the center lines of the heels. The heels are constructed from stacked, black leather with a rubber tread. The shoes’ soles are constructed from black leather and have a rubber tread over the pad of the foot. Molded repeating text on the rubber tread reads [CAT’S PAW]. The tan leather over the arch is stamped with text that reads [MADE IN ENGLAND]. The insoles are also black leather. At the center of each insole is a rectangular molded frame with molded text that reads [MADE IN ENGLAND / EXPRESSLEY FOR / COES & YOUNG CO. / BOSTON.].

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