Sold: Lady Legs Boot Jack

Boot jack taking the shape of female legs / painted wood and brass hings / c. 1890s

Folk art hand-carved and painted boot jack in the form of lady legs, c. 1890s. Used to aid in the removal of high-laced shoes, this boot jack is of a smaller, more delicate design compared to the common crude wood and cast iron examples, and was likely custom-made for a woman. Bare-legged and scandalous in its day, the piece would have been reserved for undressing in her boudoir. The inventive form is ingenious: for storage or travel, the boot jack folds up toe-to-toe with interlocking brass pins, then folding open so the feet are splayed in the perfect pirouette to accommodate a heel, the wooden ankles raised on the pins which now function as brass feet. The piece has beautifully painted details, from the delicate shoe laces to the lacey hem of stockings. Its glowing patina betrays many years of use, but the piece nevertheless remains in good, functional condition. Displays well hung open on a wall.

Measurements

10.5 inches long

Closed: 2.5 inches wide

Open: 4.5 inches wide

Condition

Very good antique condition, with scratches, discoloration, and a small chip to a foot, but displays well with a beautiful patina.

Shipping

Free in the continental United States. If an international buyer, please contact me for a shipping estimate by clicking here.