A pair of dated English delftware blue and white shoes London or Bristol, early 18th century

of unusually small size with high heels and pointed toes, each with a moulded buckle at the front and painted with trailing flowers, the soles inscribed  F :: A  and an indistinct date, probably 1710

Compare with the examples ranging in date from 1654 to 1768 listed by Louis L. Lipski and Michael Archer, Dated English Delftware, pp. 409-414, nos. 1704-1738A. It is interesting to note that all the examples illustrated have the inscriptions and dates painted on the delftware body on the underside of the arch. The small proportions of the present pair is probably the reason why the inscription is painted on the sole rather than the arch.