Orthopaedic brace
Category
Medical & health
Date
c. 1950 - c. 1960
Materials
Leather shoe with synthetic inner and cotton lace attached to metal plate and strut
Measurements
115 mm (Height) x 70 mm (Depth); 185 mm (Length)
Collection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 672705.1
Summary
An orthopaedic leg brace, one of a pair, this one for the right leg/foot and consisting of a white, opened toed leather shoe attached on its sole to a metal plate, with the plate also attached to a metal strut. The shoe has a cream coloured inner lining of synthetic material and has a white cotton lace which is threaded through six pairs of circular metal eyelets located on either side of the shoes tongue. There is a leather strap with a metal buckle attached to the heel of the shoe which allows for tightening of fit as required. The metal plate is attached to the sole of the shoe with the plate attached in turn to a metal strut running up the rear of the shoe to provide support to the ankle and lower leg up to the knee joint. There are six small circular holes at the top of the strut that allow for the height of it to be adjusted and there is also a leather strap and metal buckle that allow for the brace to be fastened to the leg below the knee joint. A second metal buckle is located on the underside of this strap to secure a second longer strap that runs down the side of the shoe through to a hoop on a metal arm that protrudes out from the front of the metal plate.
Provenance
Manufactured circa 1950 - 1960. Purchased by The National Trust via ebay in June 2019 as part of the Collecting Cultures Exploring Childhoods project.