- Manufactured by
- Levine, Herbert, American, founded 1948
- Distributed by
- Bonwit Teller , American, 1895 - 2000
- Worn by
- Kitt, Eartha, American, 1927 - 2008
- Subject of
- Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
- Date
- ca. 1955
- Medium
- silk satin with metal
- Dimensions
- H x W x D (a): 8 7/8 × 2 15/16 × 1 9/16 in. (22.5 × 7.5 × 4 cm)
- H x W x D (b): 8 7/8 × 2 5/8 × 1 3/4 in. (22.5 × 6.6 × 4.5 cm)
- Description
- Dark green satin pumps worn by Eartha Kitt and designed by Beth Levine of Herbert Levine for the department store Bonwit Teller and Co. Kitt wore the shoes with a Zelda Wynn designed dress (2007.3.163).
- The pumps are covered in a dark green satin and feature a three and a half inch spiked heel and sharply pointed toe. There is an embroidered foliage design across the vamp in six lighter shades of green silk embroidery floss with beaded metallic accents. The leather sole is lined with a contrasting gold satin, with satin sidewalls, and leather heel. The left (a) shoe features gold-colored lettering vertically placed on the footpad which reads: [herbert levine]. The right (b) shoe features gold-colored lettering vertically placed on the footpad which reads: [BONWIT TELLER / FIFTH AVE]. Black ink inscriptions inside each shoe, on their right walls, read: [4 ½ B / A-1936]. There are no markings on the bottom of the soles.
- Place made
- New York, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- Black Fashion Museum Collection
- Classification
- Clothing - Costume
- Type
- pumps (shoes)
- Topic
- Actors
- Clothing and dress
- Fashion
- Singers (Musicians)
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
- Object number
- 2007.3.164ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- Unknown - Restrictions Possible
- Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




