‘Shoe’ was a collaborative piece cobbled together by local artisans for the ‘There Be Giant’s’ exhibition at Old Sun Inn in Saffron Walden in 2024. It’s design is based on the 17th century style shoes worn in the pargeting scene of Tom Hickathrift fighting a Giant on the Church Street Gable of the building. Oliver Cromwell had a temporary HQ in the building in 1647, and was also known to wear this style shoe, from contemporary painting references.
The show was constructed with a hinged insole made by Jonathan Bromley, a wooden heel carved by master carver Matthew Bateman, upholstered by upholsterer and folklore artist Aine Corr and designed by multimedia artist Jessica Pearce who conceived and curated the exhibition. It now lives in the Saffron Walden Museum museum and warehouse and we hope it will form part of a history /legendary float at some point!
It will come back for the Legendary Essex Folklore Art exhibition this September!
