The House of Antiques has dated these Antique Leather Clown Boots to the 1920s.
A genuine pair of leather clown's shoes, these were made by Anello & Davide; shoemakers to the ballet, dance and theatrical world from their shop at 96 Charing Cross Road (so pre-1965 when they moved to Drury Lane).
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This pair were almost certainly a unique production, dated circa 1940 to 1950s. The iconic Circus shoe bulbous toe has a zippered front (part of an act) and the heel a locking mechanism that would have engaged with a cleat on the stage to allow extreme leans (a similar set up used by Michael Jackson for the Smooth Criminal performances) ... Finished in a striking black and white leather, laced high with an additional strap around the ankle - presumably to aid with the leaning when locked in! They would have undoubtedly cost a pretty penny to have made and the subsequent care is evident; despite being well used they're in excellent condition with their lasts still in place.
Len 'Spider' Austin is likely to be the original owner of the boots. Spider was from a big family of clowns; his father was Albert Austin and his mother Adelaide Ginnett. He was in Paris for many years at the famous Jerome Medrano Circus. One of acts was "booze-a-phone" where he would get drunk and end up playing the bottles; the drunken act would involve extreme leaning facilitated by the heel of the shoes!
Len 'Spider' Austin was a British circus clown known for his multi-decade career in traditional circus performance, his roots in a prominent circus family, and his international work, particularly in France alongside renowned clowns. Born Leonard Austin on 28 May 1915 in a circus wagon, he was the son of the white-face clown "Bandbox" Austin and Adelaide Ginnett, a former bareback rider from a long-established circus lineage. Nicknamed "Spider" for his tall, spare frame, he began performing in the ring at age seven with his father and later frequently partnered with his older brother Albert "Alby" Austin. His early career included appearances at Blackpool Tower Circus and Belle Vue Circus in Manchester during the 1930s, with a planned season at Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.
During the war he volunteered for pilot training but was rejected due to colour blindness, instead working as a driver for the Air Ministry while performing when possible at open rings. In the post-war years he became a regular performer with Bertram Mills and Chipperfield's circuses, later joining Billy Russell's Circus, Kelvin Hall Circus, Lord George Sanger's Circus, and Robert Fossett's Circus. A highlight of his career came in Paris at Jerome Medrano's circus in Montmartre; in the 1953–54 seasons he led a troupe of young British clowns and, following the sudden death of star clown Rhum, was selected to take over Rhum's famous "Adam and Eve" sketch. He returned to Medrano in 1959 and also performed at Cirque Bouglione.
Austin appeared alongside Buster Keaton during the latter's circus engagements in Paris and later featured as himself in the 1987 television documentary Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow. He retired from regular performing in 1969, though he made occasional gala appearances, including a final clown performance at an International Clowns' Convention in Bognor Regis playing his "Boozerphone" instrument. [1] Austin, whose wife Hazel (a former Bluebell dancer) died in 1988, lived in Wickford, Essex, after retirement and worked in a hospital boiler house. He died on 7 December 2000 at age 85, leaving a legacy continued by his son and grandson in the circus ring.
Dimensions per shoe.
Height: 22cm (8.5")
Width: 13cm (5")
Depth: 36 cm (14")
Details
Date: Mid 20th C
The House of Antiques has dated these Antique Leather Clown Boots to the 1920s.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the The House of Antiques Profile Page
Early 20th Century Clown Shoes
