Vintage, Bespoke
HENRY MAXWELL
Dover Street
info@henrymaxwell.co.uk
Officer’s Regulation Field (Navvy) Boot
Circa 1956
Euro 840

Henry Maxwell was founded in 1750 and is the oldest of the remaining bootmakers in London. The first of its several Royal Warrants was awarded in the mid-19th century by King George IV. In the 20th century the firm absorbed Faulkner & Son and operated shops in both London and Paris. Since 1999, under the same private ownership with its sister firm, Foster & Son, itself in continuous tradition for 172 years, Henry Maxwell trades at 83 Jermyn Street opposite Fortnums. Henry Maxwell is well know for its wide range of hunting and riding accessories, boots and shoes, supplied to both cavalry regiments and for civilian use.

Even those gentlemen prepared to pay £1,870 for shoes or £3600 for boots may not have been willing to go barefoot for the 8 months Maxwell info@henrymaxwell.co.uk or Foster require for delivery. Ref:http://foster.co.uk/our-products/bespoke-services/ Those clients were accommodated uncompromisingly by Foster’s then ready-to-wear line made for them by Edward Green into the 1990s. See:http://foster.co.uk/our-products/ready-to-wear/oxfords/thornham/

The present pair of Field (or Navvy) boots were bespoke-custom-made by Maxwell, while still at the old Dover Street location. There were ordered and made to uniform specification for a gentleman officer stationed mid-century in Germany. Fully gusseted, cap-toed, closed channel hand welted and with hand set, horse shoe nailed reinforced heel, this is the reflection of the government issue boot of the period except that it is hand made-to-measure for this individual officer. You have before you a military boot trailing clouds of tradition, a history that cannot be bought out of a shop window. At the same time, it is a robust boot that will serve you for decades to come as it has served in decades past. For the advanced collector or consummately well dressed gentleman, in town, as well as in country.

Size Details:

Shoe Condition:

Simply superb. All original, never repaired nor needing repair. Bottoms showing trivial wear and tops, but for wanting a coat of polish, appear near new. Sold without trees but with fitting Flannel Travel Boot Bags.