TitleUnfinished Single shellwork baby shoeDatec 1880s-1950sAbout this objectA single, unfinished decorative children’s shoe, handmade from cardboard, light blue felt-like fabric, sand, and shells. These miniature shoes are part of the distinctive La Perouse shellwork tradition, practiced by Aboriginal women who produced souvenirs for visitors.
From the late 19th century, women in Sydney, particularly at the Aboriginal reserve at La Perouse (established 1895), made shellwork objects such as shoes, jewellery boxes, and replicas of famous landmarks. These items reflected a Victorian sensibility for decorative crafts and became an important part of the local souvenir trade.
Although initially encouraged by missionaries as a way to occupy residents, the shellwork industry helped sustain families and challenged segregation policies, as visitors from Sydney and overseas came to purchase these souvenirs.Object No.99.53Physical descriptionSingle Cardboard baby shoe with light blue fabric edging and sand/shell grit (unfinished shellwork), unfinished. Lined with sand and sea grit. Cardboard construction visible. Handmade.DimensionsH: 32 mm W: 50 mm D: 100 mmPlace madeSydney, AustraliaMaterialCardboardGlueFabric ShellsSandSourceLa Perouse MuseumOrganisations (Detailed entries)La Perouse Museum (La Perouse, N.S.W.)ThemesFirst Nations
