Shoe tree

What a pretty object! With this beautiful, carefully crafted shape and all these pieces of wood for a utilitarian object: keeping the shape of the shoes! Today it makes an original decorative object, to place or why not hang on the wall as a collection. This shoe tree (left foot) in wood and metal is a very technical object: in the heel, an invisible spring presses on the wooden tube which connects it to the front part. This wooden tube also allows the articulation of the front and rear parts. The front part consists of two parts connected by a spring. This shoe tree has two markings: “registered model” on the upper part and inside a number which indicates the size I imagine: 37. It probably dates from the 50s or 60s. It is in good structural condition, the springs are their office, but has the patina of time: various marks on the wood (discolorations, scratches, abrasions, small stains, etc.) and superficial corrosion on the metal ring. It measures approximately 24cm in length, 9cm in width, 8cm in height.