On View
Musical Crossroads Gallery
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
Manufactured by
New Rock, founded 1978
Worn by
Collins, Bootsy, American, born 1951
Date
ca. 1990
Medium
leather, rubber, metal, and cotton cord shoelaces with plastic aglets
Dimensions
H x W x D (a): 12 1/2 × 5 × 12 1/4 in. (31.8 × 12.7 × 31.1 cm)
H x W x D (b): 12 1/2 × 5 × 12 1/4 in. (31.8 × 12.7 × 31.1 cm)
Description
A pair of black leather platform boots worn by Bootsy Collins. The ankle-length boots are made in a high-top sneaker style with wide tongues. The outside and inside quarter panels of the shoes have a textured black patent leather panel that also outlines the lacing. Six (6) metal grommets with engraved text "NEW ROCK" around the hole are attached with black leather loops to form the eyelets for the black cotton cord shoelaces. The aglets of the laces are a clear plastic with the words "NEW ROCK" printed in white text. A metal medallion with engraved text reading "LIVE THE FORCE / OF NATURE" is attached to the shoelace at the front of the lacing panel. Black rubber panels with a series of textured ridges are attached around the heel cap extending onto the sides of each shoe, and also on the front of the tongues. At the outside ankle of each shoe is a round black rubber logo with a planet Earth in the center and text around it reading "NEW ROCK PLANET". The shoes sit on a platform sole that measures five (5) inches at the heel. The sole is made of hard black rubber and has a series of three (3) circular cutouts that go all the way through the sides. Inside each of these cutouts is a coiled metal ball. There are two (2) additional circular indentations in the platform, one at the front of the toe and the other at the back heel, with an engraved metal logo inside each indentation with a raised center motif of planet Earth and text around it reading "NEW ROCK PLANET".
The interiors of the shoes are lined with brown leather. There is a white label with black, red, and gold machine stitching reading "NEW / ROCK / MADE IN SPAIN" sewn to the insole. Behind the label is a round sticker reading "SPAIN / 42 / Continental / 43".
Shoes have a brown leather interior. White tag on insides of shoes reads, [NEW/ROCK/MADE IN SPAIN]. Medal pendant hangs from front of laces reads, LIVE THE FORCE/OF NATURE]
Classification
Clothing - Costume
Type
boots
Topic
Clothing and dress
Costume
Funk (Music)
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Bootsy Collins
Object number
2015.234.2.4ab
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5a4223ca5-4455-4e0e-b735-64ef30c48b60

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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