My Vintage Pair Of Capezio Assoluta

Assoluta Pointe Shoes

Finding a Vintage model, buying it, and adding it to a beloved collection is one of the most satisfying of endeavors . Anyone who has read through this blog knows that Capezio ballet and pointe shoes will always have a special place in my heart.

It is the Capezio models of the Vintage era that I love more than anything. Sometimes, the older one gets, the more one becomes wistful about the products of their youth. Although I am grateful that I can find pointe shoe treasures online, there was no such thing as online shopping when I was a student.

It is eye opening to realize that the brands and models that were popular in the early 1970’s are now classified as Vintage. Although my particular dance shoe shop in 1971 carried Capezio and Selva, the Assoluta by Capezio was only seen in my dance magazines. I was, however, in awe of any dancer that held the title of Prima Ballerina Assoluta. She was the Queen. The absolute best of the best.

Pointe Shoe Ads In Dance Magazines Were Like Catnip To Me

A Very Precious Addition To My Collection

When I think back on the start of my collection journey, it began with hanging on to my well-loved and worn out Pavlowa’s.

It also included holding on to every magazine with pictures of pointe shoes, slippers, and dancers. I am truly saddened by the fact that I didn’t keep those wonderful magazines and my tattered cutouts.

As I keep my eyes open for Vintage pointe shoes and slippers, I gravitate towards brands and models from the 50’s, 60′, and 70’s.  No thermo plastics. Nothing broken in for you. No soft fuzzy-wuzzy liners. No smooshy gel toe caps built-in. No Made In Turkmengladesh for Cheap.

It’s Incredible How A Simple Photo Can Take You Back In Time

Vintage Capezio Assoluta

As the Ballet world moves ever faster towards the latest in accessories, styles and techniques, there remain a few diehard dreamers that prefer to travel back in time instead.

It may be difficult for younger dancers to understand this devotion to the pointe shoe construction methods of yesteryear. And to understand why Principal Dancer will never sound as magical, as ethereal, as breathlessly beautiful as a Prima Ballerina Assoluta.

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A Vintage Mystery- Red Leather Pointe Shoes From Argentina

Happy New Year, Dear Reader. There is nothing more interesting than starting off the new year with old shoes. Very mysterious old pointe shoes made of red leather and being sold in Argentina. When I find something like this , I know my curiosity will be large, but my data bank for writing a post about them will be quite small. As I looked over an enlarged version of these photos with a hopeful heart, I was disappointed that they didn’t give up their secrets.

A Fascinating Collectible For Any Vintage Pointe Shoe Fan

How I wish I knew something more about these old leather pointe shoes. They look so different from anything else out there, don’t they? Because these shoes are so old and unusual, they would make an absolutely magnificent addition to a collection. Just to be able to peek inside and check for an insole marking or makers stamp would be wonderful.

This Writer Would Love To Know:

• Who danced in these precious shoes, and is the dancer still alive?
• Were they made in Argentina, or in some other part of the world?
• How old are these pointe shoes?
• Do they have a brand name, or were they made specifically for the dancers of the Teatro Colón?
• Are the drawstrings original or replacements?

What do you think? Are you as fascinated as I am with these old leather pointe shoes? Feel free to leave a comment.

Perros Louis Vintage Pointe Shoes From France

Am I a collector’s item? Oui! Oui!

Long ago and far away in the romantic city of Paris, there was a dance shop named Perros.

It was located in a busy section of the city that to this day is still a major  thoroughfare for pedestrians and vehicle traffic.

One day, the shop closed its doors and the precious inventory of dance shoes would become a part of ballet history instead.

French Ballet Shoe Memorabilia With A Bit Of Provenance

Its unusual to see a pointe shoe sole imprinted with an address.

If you have an eye for dance shoe collectibles, it’s always wonderful when you can get a full, interesting “provenance” with your purchase.

One very obvious place to start digging for some provenance is the address imprinted on the sole.

It was thrilling to discover that the storefront of 61 Rue Monge still exists today.

It is now an upscale beauty spa called Mani Kua.  Okay, I admit that I went through the picture gallery of the salon trying to imagine it filled with cobbler benches and tools and glue and satin fabric. Unfortunately, time  ( and an interior redo) has erased all traces of ballet-coated  D.N.A..

Surely I am not so far gone as to think there could have been an old, dusty  pointe ribbon hanging from the rafters in a back room? Maybe I  thought I would see the faint outline of a pink toe box peeking out from a cobweb under a lobby chair.

Coming Back To Reality And The Findings Of My Research:

1. There is nothing available online about the closing date of the business.
2.  The only page  on the web that mentions Perros,  shoe making and Paris altogether is located on this outdated business listing @ https://www.societe.com/societe/perros-louis-bottier-784247983.html
3. It is unknown whether Perros is his first name or last name. The Bottier name may be a title of occupation.   Translated from French to English, bottier means boot maker.

How lucky is the person that may own a pair of this rare brand! If I had a pair of these pointe shoes, would I sell them? As they say in French…… non, jamais!

 

 

Fascinating Vintage-The Hoffert Dancing Slipper

Do you know what I really love? That ballet can be just as fascinating when you go back in time as it is going forward; especially the shoes.

As a matter of fact, many vintage ballet shoe collectors probably wish they had unlimited funds to scoop up all the rare historical treasures they could get their hands on.

The most fascinating pointe shoe brands are the ones that were alive and well back in the 1920’s through the 1950’s.

I am enthralled with vintage dance shoe ads. These precious ads take us back to a time when pointe  shoes were called toe shoes or dancing slippers. As seen above in this 1952 ad from the Chicago Theatrical Shoe Company, an interesting selling feature was something they called the Italian toe.

No matter what type of toe they had, they are a lovely piece of memorabilia from the now long-gone Chicago Theatrical Shoe Company. Isn’t it amazing that some still survive? This is a great incentive to hang on to your old pointe shoes, or dancing slippers.

 

Dancing slipper……..it sounds so light and airy, graceful and romantic.

 

 

Vintage Barney’s Pointe Shoe Finds Safe Home In Maryland

Do you dream of having a great pointe shoe collection one day? Other than owning shoes that have been worn and signed by a world-famous ballerina, many collectors dream of getting their hands on a truly old and rare pointe shoe model.  My oldest pointe shoes date back to the 1980’s; vintage, yes, but not as vintage as a pair from the 1920’s or 1930’s.

Rare Models Of Vintage Ballet Shoes Are Treasures

Collecting very rare and vintage pointe shoes can also be a costly proposition for the average balletomane.  Most of us will never be able to get our hands on these rare finds simply because there are few, if any, left in the world.  Pointe shoes are typically discarded when they get worn out.  Not many of us still have our very first pair, unfortunately. If I had mine, they would now be 42 years old.

Young reader, save your first pair of pointe shoes. Believe it or not, you will get old some day and your ballet shoe brand may cease to exist making it precious and collectible.

Preservation Of The History Of Ballet Is An Important Job

There is good news, however. It costs nothing to look and admire vintage photos and old ballet advertisements! There are wonderful photos of old shoes and ballet stories available to the public through museums and historical societies. One in particular, The Historical Society Of Montgomery County, Maryland, has an amazing gemstone of a shoe verging on antique status.

Precious Ballet Memorabilia In  Montgomery County, Maryland

I was very elated when I discovered that the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Maryland has a wonderful post on their website about a rare vintage pointe shoe brand called Barney’s. The small shoe comes with an inspiring story about the donor and background information about the maker of the Barney’s shoe.

Barney’s maker stamp on insole. If this model is circa 1932, it is now 80 years old. Soon it will move from the vintage category to a genuine antique.

There is another photo of the whole shoe displayed and protected in a little case like a fine museum piece.  You can read the beautiful story attached to this shoe  and see the other photo here : A Little Ballet, 1920’s-30’s Style

Getting  Nostalgic About Vintage Pointe Shoe Advertisements

We can be thankful that there are people in the world dedicated to preserving artifacts of ballet history like old costumes, props and shoes. The old traditions of pointe shoe making and the techniques that cobblers used are kept alive through the work of volunteers, curators and historians. Even old ballet shoe advertisements have been preserved.

If you are older, you will be inspired when you take a trip down memory lane and view these vintage pointe shoe advertisements on Zandance.com. Scroll down towards the bottom of the page.

You will find old ads for Leo,  Capezio, Selva, Ben and Sally and yes, Barney’s! As usual, I always wonder what happened to some of the pointe shoe brands that disappeared from the ballet world. Why did Barney’s shoe model become obsolete? Did a larger company buy him out? Are there any living descendents of this cobbler that could come forward with more information?

Although we may never find out exactly why Barney’s pointe shoe manufacturing went out of business, it is apparent that they were very popular decades ago. The good news is that at least one fine example of this shoe is being lovingly cared for and protected by The Historical Society Of Montgomery County, Maryland.

If you happen to live near or in the State of Maryland, check out the origins and  behind-the-scenes dedication of the folks who run The Montgomery County Historical Society.

Repetto Pointe Shoes

Vintage Repetto Circa 1947

What a beautiful pair of pointe shoes these are! Someone must have taken very good care of them because they are in excellent condition.

Seeing antique and vintage pointe shoes inspires me even more to grow my pointe shoe collection.

When these Repettos were discontinued, most likely they flooded the market at a lower price. How lucky for those who were smart enough to buy a pair and hold onto them all these years.

These Repetto pointe shoes are now 63 years old. Just like fine wine, a pointe shoe like this just gets better with age…….

Bolshoi Pointe Shoes

The Mystery Of The Bolshoi Pointe Shoe

At first, I was very skeptical about writing this article. I wanted to write about the Bolshoi pointe shoes after obtaining enough information about them to have something to offer my readers.

After 2 months of very frustrating research, I’m right back to square one. I’ve decided to share my story and tell you everything I do know about them.

The first time I ever heard about Bolshoi pointe shoes was when my friend, Monica Newell, mentioned having photographs of pre-glasnost era pointe shoes. Monica is  the talented  head designer of Costume Creations in London and is deeply entrenched in the ballet world.

The Bolshoi Theater was in London in 1992. At that same time, Monica stopped by the Porselli Dance Shop near Covent Garden. There, inside a bargain bucket, were several pairs of Bolshoi pointe shoes. Loving the Bolshoi like she does, Monica instantly purchased the lot.

Knowing that the Bolshoi dancers were in town, Monica had a notion to stop by the Gandolfi shop and inquire about the Bolshoi pointe shoes. Lo and behold, the clerk produced 2 bags full of discarded Bolshoi pointe shoes. Monica purchased the second lot and has had them ever since.

Photographs of the Bolshoi pointe shoes were taken, and this is about as far as the story goes. I have spent numerous hours sending e-mails to various departments at the Bolshoi Theater with no response. I have tried contacting Bolshoi dancers through their Facebook pages, spoken with pointe shoe makers, and gone through listings of museums and dance historians only to come up empty- handed.

I was fortunate enough to be given one pair for my collection. The Bolshoi pointe shoes are a true Russian pointe shoe. They are incredibly hard! They are pre-arched with a v-vamp, high sides and heels, and no drawstring. The soles on the Bolshoi pointe shoes are totally unique. The leather is brushed for traction.

I have so many questions about these pointe shoes! Who made them? Why did the Bolshoi Theater stop making them? Did the dancers themselves complain about the shoes? Why is information about them so difficult to find?

The Bolshoi pointe shoes were made and used before 1985 which can make getting information about them difficult, but not impossible. If any of you have any advice, leads, or information about the Bolshoi pointe shoes please feel free to contact me. Any comments are welcome.

These pointe shoes are historical artifacts and a part of the wonderful legacy of the Bolshoi Theater. I believe that someone, somewhere, knows exactly what happened to these magnificent Russian pointe shoes…

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MONICA NEWELL/ COSTUME CREATIONS U.K.

Traditional Russian design with no drawstring

Soles are brushed leather for traction

Traditional Russian Pointe Shoes

These are traditional Russian pointe shoes. Notice how tapered the toes are and how tiny the platform is! Compared to the wide, boxy styles of today, balancing on these small areas must have taken incredible poise and determination.

Tiny platforms were created for maximum stage drama. Audiences were wowed by this. They also placed higher demands on dancer technique; par for the course when it comes to the strict world of Russian ballet training.

Toes were scrunched in to accommodate the ever-narrowing toe box. It must have felt wonderful to take these pointe shoes off at the end of day.