Joseph Box & Co

The photograph shows part of the Joseph Box & Co Shoemakers' collection in the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia. This London firm was founded by a ladies' shoemaker, James Sly, in 1808 and they proceeded to acquire royal warrants and to win medals in international exhibitions. They were, eventually, taken over, in Conduit Street, by Gundry & Sons and they, in turn, were taken over by John Lobb after 1953. In a collection of records relating to Joseph Box & Co and artefacts collected by the firm (now in the Powerhouse Museum), are examples of ancient footwear from many different sources and examples of fine stitching by this firm's workers, at the amazing rate of twenty stitches to the centimetre.