Cobbling Collection

Various shoemaking tools
Various tools used by a shoemaker or cobbler, including scissors, pliers, hammers, a skewer, a ruler and strong thread

Irish Leprechaun, or Fairy Shoemaker
An Irish Leprechaun, or Fairy Shoemaker, working on a pile of shoes

Caucasus: Tiflis Shoe Maker
3785892 Caucasus: Tiflis Shoe Maker; (add.info.: Caucasus: Tiflis Shoe Maker. Early 20th century Russian postcard. Tiflis, capital city of Georgia (modern day Tbilisi).); Lebrecht History

The Anniversary of the Little Boys Homes at Farningham and Swanley, the Home at Farningham (engraving)
1062359 The Anniversary of the Little Boys Homes at Farningham and Swanley, the Home at Farningham (engraving) by Barnes, Robert (1840-95); Private Collection; (add.info)

Wits Last Stake, or The Cobling Voters and Abject Canvassers, pub
2962501 Wits Last Stake, or The Cobling Voters and Abject Canvassers, pub. (hand coloured engraving) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English

Remains of Bristol Castle on a house in Castle Green (pencil & w / c on paper)
2832196 Remains of Bristol Castle on a house in Castle Green (pencil & w/c on paper) by Jackson, Samuel (1794-1868); Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, UK; eBristol Museums

Mending by Master Keep himself, from Our Village
IL388134 Mending by Master Keep himself, from Our Village by Mary Russell Mitford (colour litho) by Brock, Charles Edmund (1870-1938); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

A group of women receive a lesson in boot repairing, World War I, c1914-c1918. Artist
A group of women receive a lesson in boot repairing, World War I, c1914-c1918. A cobbler showing women how to repair boots at Scaynes Hill Womens Insititute, Sussex

Women working in a boot repairing factory, Old Kent Road, London, World War I, c1914-c1918. Cobbling was traditionally regarded as an occupation only for men

Cobbling, Earlswood Asylum, Reigate, 1904. Opened in 1848, the Royal Earlswood Hospital was an asylum for people with learning difficulties, or idiots as they were described at the time

Last and boots on a Christmas and New Year card
Cobbler's last and boots on a comic Christmas and New Year card. Date: circa 1890s

Cobblers at work, Naples, Italy. Date: late 19th century

The Shoemaker of Reville, a town near Cherbourg (oil on wood)
XIR383921 The Shoemaker of Reville, a town near Cherbourg (oil on wood) by Fouace, Guillaume Romain (1827-95); Musee d Art Thomas Henry, Cherbourg, France; (add.info.: Le Cordonnier de Reville)

The Cobblers, 1880 (oil on canvas)
XIR172417 The Cobblers, 1880 (oil on canvas) by Lhermitte, Leon Augustin (1844-1925); 53x66 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: in the Champagne region of France; ); French, out of copyright

Whitehall, Looking Northeast, c. 1775 (oil on canvas)
XYC111928 Whitehall, Looking Northeast, c.1775 (oil on canvas) by Marlow, William (1740-1813); 71x91 cm; Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, USA; English, out of copyright

Double page spread in a diary for 23-28 October
A double page spread in a young persons diary for 23-28 October. Each day is given a small illustration, relating either to the season, or to the anniversary of an historical event

Boot workshop, NIPRCC, East Harling, Norfolk
Boot-making workshop at the East Harling, Norfolk, branch of the National Institutions for Persons Requiring Care and Control

Bootmakers Shop at Barnardos Home, Stepney Causeway
Bootmakers shop at Barnardos Home, Stepney Causeway, East London. In 1870, Thomas Barnardo set up a home for destitute boys at 18-26 Stepney Causeway

Shoemaking Workshop, Holborn Union Workhouse, Mitcham
The shoemaking workshop at the Holborn Union workhouse, Mitcham, Surrey. Male inmates are at work making and repairing shoes for use in the workhouse

Shoemaking Class, Training Ship Wellesley, North Shields
Boys taking part in a shoemaking or repairing class on the Training Ship Wellesley, on the River Tyne at North Shields, Northumberland

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Cobbling: A Time-Honored Craft Uniting Shoemakers and Legends" Step into the world of cobbling, where various shoemaking tools come to life in the hands of skilled artisans. Like an Irish Leprechaun or Fairy Shoemaker, these craftsmen weave magic through their fingertips, transforming leather into works of art. Imagine a Last and boots on a Christmas and New Year card, symbolizing the essence of tradition and craftsmanship passed down through generations. It reminds us that even in this modern age, there is beauty in preserving ancient techniques. Intriguingly, The Anniversary of the Little Boys Homes at Farningham and Swanley showcases an engraving depicting a cobbling scene. This artwork captures the significance of cobblers' role in society as providers for those less fortunate. The Wits Last Stake or The Cobling Voters and Abject Canvassers publication sheds light on how cobblers were not only skilled with their hands but also possessed wit and political influence during historical times. Traveling across continents, we discover glimpses like Remains of Bristol Castle on a house in Castle Green or Koranic school in the cobblers bazaar from La Terre Sainte by Victor Guerin. These images remind us that cobbling transcends borders, cultures, and religions – it is truly a universal craft. From Our Village's depiction of Mending by Master Keep himself to World War I-era photographs capturing women receiving lessons or working diligently in boot repairing factories along Old Kent Road – these snapshots illustrate how both men and women have contributed to this noble trade throughout history. Even institutions such as Earlswood Asylum recognized the therapeutic benefits found within cobbling. In 1904 at Reigate's asylum, patients engaged in this craft as part of their rehabilitation journey towards healing both body and mind. Lastly, let's not forget Naples' bustling streets with Cobblers at work.