Deer Bone

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Date:1825 - 1996 (c.)

Description:A flat piece of deer bone used for 'boning up' at Southorn boot makers in Leamington Spa.

Boots are made from the 'wrong' side of the leather so that if they get scratched the finish can easily be restored. The shine is achieved by putting boot blacking on the shoe and rubbing it with a deer bone. The friction of this action causes the shellac in the blacking to melt, which eventually produces the shine. This is known as boning up and it takes several hours to achieve a high shine.

Southorn was establised in 1825 by William Southorn. In 1847 the company moved to The Parade, where it remained until 1980, when it moved to Warwick Street. When the company closed in 1996 six generations of the Southorn family had worked there. Until the 1950s Southorn was very well known for making bespoke riding boots.


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1820s
Ostrich Skin
Ostrich Skin

A piece of ostrich skin used to make bags and shoes at Southorn boot makers in Leamington ...

1840s
Stock Book
Stock Book

Stock book for Miss Holt ladies' shoe maker from 3 May 1847. Thomas Southorn bought ...

1920s
J.T. Southorn, Exterior
J.T. Southorn, Exterior

Sepia photograph of the exterior of J.T. Southorn on The Parade in Leamington Spa. ...

1950s
Minute Book
Minute Book

Minute book from Southorn boot makers in Leamington Spa. It contains the typed minutes ...

1970s
Letter
Letter

Typed letter sent from Surgical Bootworks to Southorn boot makers in Leamington ...

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Donor ref:LEAMG : M4700.2010.89 (70/28944)

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