Thursday, February 20, 2014

Leave It To The Victorians





     Don't you find it interesting that the Victorians, 1830-1900, during the Rein of Queen Victoria of England, made things for everything? Elaborate butter dishes, comb cases and BOOT RACKS. These were most likely made for the tack room at the horse barn. They were designed to hold tall leather  boots.The boots would be fitted with wood boot forms to keep them in shape. The wood form would have a handle or brass ring on the top. This was made to pull the form out of the boot. It was also made to hold boots in the boot racks. The handle looked a lot like the top of a bowling pin. The handle or the ring would slide into the groves on the middle shelf and hold the boots into place., The pegs at the top would have been used to hold the leather whips.






   I don't have a barn or a tack room ,so my Boot Rack is living in the front hall. It is made of mahogany and is most likely English. Could be French because of the design on the end. I would say the age is most likely 1850. I would love to have a least one pair of tall leather boots, with there form inside, to complete the picture. Any body out there have a pair? I might be interested. Today most people just throw the boots in a pile on the floor. Life has changed. Of course we do not have servants these days, to keep the boots. Most people have never heard of a riding boot as they have never rode. Well I would say that there surely is a Boot Rack at Downton Abbey. What do you think?
   Come by for a tour anytime. I will always leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will meet you with a jump and a kiss.