Description: Empress Eugenie's summer brogues, 1870s, with Hook, Knowles & Co printed paper label, 'Makers to Her Majesty, 65 New Bond Street', of white canvas with tan leather curved/square toe tips, ribbon bows, stacked brown leather heel, 25cm, 10in long (2) Provenance: from the collection of Jean Baptist Franceschini-Pietri, private secretary to Empress Eugenie, previously sold as part of his estate at Osenat Auctions, Fontainbleau, 9.6.2013, lot 254. M. Franceschini-Pietri worked as private secretary to Napoleon III, who ruled as Emperor of France 1852-1870. After the Emperor was deposed in 1871, he fled to Chislehurst, Kent where he lived in exile with his wife Empress Eugenie, the Prince Imperial, his only son and trusted aides including M. Franceschini-Pietri. Eugenie was known throughout Europe as a leader of fashion (Charles Frederick Worth being a particular favourite) and Queen Victoria was a frequent visitor to their English home. After the Emperor's death in 1873, Franceschini-Pietri became secretary to the Prince Imperial, who trained in England as a soldier, but was unfortunately killed by the Zulus during the Boer war in 1879. Afterwards he served the Empress. Napoleon III, Empress Eugenie and their loyal secretary are all buried in St Michael's Abbey, Chislehurst, Kent.

Condition Report: Rust spots to the canvas generally. Ribbon laces are worn at the tips. Very rare to find canvas/summer shoes of this date.