Via a Sabotier, Blocks of Wood Become Pairs of Wooden ShoES

My own fascination with the sabot stems from my French background on my mother's side. Over the course of many years, I have collected wooden shoes, typically in pairs, from thrift stores with one pair (brown on top of the pile with the carved apple) purchased while I was in France many years ago. As I was single at the time, the sabotier's wife lamented that her daughter was not home at the time! . While I haven't yet been able to identify the country of origin of this collection, (based on the style of the sabot), I imaging this collection is a combination of both French and Dutch shoes, some being quite old.

A Partial History:

The French sabot, a type of wooden clog, has a history deeply intertwined with French rural life and the development of the word "sabotage." Originally worn by peasants and workers to protect their feet, especially in agricultural settings, the sabot also became associated with a form of industrial protest and the origin of the word "sabotage."  

Here's a more detailed look: 

Early History (15th-19th Centuries): 

* Practical Footwear: Sabots were a common and affordable form of footwear in France, particularly among rural populations. They were made from a single block of wood, often alder, birch, black poplar, or beech. 

* Protection and Durability: The sturdy construction of sabots provided protection from the elements, sharp tools, and muddy conditions common in fields and farms.  

* Social Symbol: While practical, sabots were also sometimes decorated and worn for special occasions like weddings.

* Not Just for Peasants: While often associated with the lower classes, sabots were also worn by some urban workers and even soldiers in certain contexts, like the "sabotines" worn in World War I.

                                                                                                         Excerpts from various online articles