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Green satin pumps worn by Eartha Kitt

African American Museum

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    Object Details

    Manufactured by

    Herbert Levine, American, founded 1948

    Distributed by

    Bonwit Teller , American, 1895 - 2000

    Worn by

    Eartha Kitt, American, 1927 - 2008

    Subject of

    Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

    Description

    Dark green satin pumps worn by Eartha Kitt and designed by Beth Levine of Herbert Levine for the department store Bonwit Teller and Co. Kitt wore the shoes with a Zelda Wynn designed dress (2007.3.163).
    The pumps are covered in a dark green satin and feature a three and a half inch spiked heel and sharply pointed toe. There is an embroidered foliage design across the vamp in six lighter shades of green silk embroidery floss with beaded metallic accents. The leather sole is lined with a contrasting gold satin, with satin sidewalls, and leather heel. The left (a) shoe features gold-colored lettering vertically placed on the footpad which reads: [herbert levine]. The right (b) shoe features gold-colored lettering vertically placed on the footpad which reads: [BONWIT TELLER / FIFTH AVE]. Black ink inscriptions inside each shoe, on their right walls, read: [4 ½ B / A-1936]. There are no markings on the bottom of the soles.

    Credit Line

    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

    Date

    ca. 1955

    Object number

    2007.3.164ab

    Restrictions & Rights

    Unknown - Restrictions Possible
    Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

    Type

    pumps (shoes)

    Medium

    silk satin with metal

    Dimensions

    H x W x D (a): 8 7/8 × 2 15/16 × 1 9/16 in. (22.5 × 7.5 × 4 cm)
    H x W x D (b): 8 7/8 × 2 5/8 × 1 3/4 in. (22.5 × 6.6 × 4.5 cm)

    Place made

    New York, New York, United States, North and Central America

    See more items in

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

    Collection title

    Black Fashion Museum Collection

    Classification

    Clothing - Costume

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Actors
    Clothing and dress
    Fashion
    Singers (Musicians)

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5d2b63c86-50b2-4d9c-94e5-84f36c151c24

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2007.3.164ab

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