Early 20th Cent. Black Leather Lace-Up Ankle Boots

C-18886 c. 1910s-1920s; Merrill, Porter & Co. - Lynn, MA Black leather lace-up ankle boots with rounded toes, low stacked heels, and plain, utilitarian uppers characteristic of early 20th-century American footwear. Constructed with smooth finished leather uppers, fabric laces, and leather soles secured with metal fasteners at the heel. The silhouette is restrained and practical, falling between a dress boot and a work or walking boot, suitable for everyday wear during the period. Interior construction and sole stamping confirm manufacture by Merrill, Porter & Co. of Lynn, Massachusetts, a city widely regarded as the epicenter of American shoe production during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Merrill, Porter & Co. was one of many established Lynn manufacturers supplying durable, r...