PDdep0040

Constança of Noronha’s shoe insole
Author: Desconhecido
Origin: Guimarães (?)
Dating: 15th century, last quarter (?)
Material: Leather
Dimensions (cm): 0,2 x 19 x 6,5
Owne: Guimarães, Venerável Ordem Terceira de S. Francisco
Inv. no.: PDdep0040

Constança of Noronha (1395-1480) married D. Afonso, 8th Count of Barcelos, in 1420. They ordered the construction of their Palace in Guimarães, where they came to reside. In 1442, they began using the title of First Dukes of Braganza.

Here one may see the insole of a shoe that belonged to D. Constança of Noronha. It was found in her ossuary in the main chapel of the Church of São Francisco in Guimarães. The insole is of bovine leather, and its concave shape indicates that it is the right insole.

The insole’s face (the grain side of the leather) – where the foot would rest – was left plain.

Its back displays three large Xs forming a square and three triangles. Several small circles – 37 in total – were marked with an awl.

It is noteworthy that this insole seems to have a mark next to one of the circles, near the right edge of the insole: three parallel lines seem noticeable, and it could be the mark of a cobbler’s workshop from Guimarães. It may also be a Gothic letter and, in such case, it may result from a commission to a goldsmith.

Intriguing – and even mysterious – is the small size of the insole. Currently, it would correspond to a size 30 or 31, typical of a very young teenager. It is presumed that its owner was of short stature or that it was a childhood shoe.