Rene Caovilla, D’Orsay Black Velvet Evening Pumps, Crystal Embellished, Silver Metalic Lining on Jewelled 3 Inch Heel.
René Caovilla Black Velvet Pumps
These exquisite René Caovilla Black Velvet Pumps from the Imelda Marcos Shoe Collection combine the drama of an evening shoe with the intricate decorative craftsmanship for which the Italian house became renowned.
The D’Orsay silhouette is fashioned in sumptuous black velvet and illuminated with crystal embellishments. A contrasting silver metallic lining introduces another reflective surface, while the three-inch heel is itself richly jewelled, transforming a structural element of the shoe into an ornamental feature.
In A. J. Green’s oil portrait, the crystals emerge as points of light against the deep black velvet, giving the shoe an almost jewellery-like quality.
Reproduced as a museum-quality art print, the painting preserves an extraordinary piece of designer footwear from the world’s most famous shoe collection.
High Quality Fine Art Print on thick, matte, museum-grade archival paper. From an Original 2008 Oil Painting by A. J. Green, featuring shoes worn by Imelda Marcos. It will be carefully rolled up and delivered in a heavy-duty cardboard tube.
Each print comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and confirmation of your total charitable donation.
Size: 30"x24" (76x61cm).
Your Print Is Unique, Individually Numbered, Registered and Authenticated by Sole Support
Every Sole Support print is individually numbered and registered to its owner in our permanent database, creating a unique record of provenance and authenticity that can accompany the artwork throughout its life and future ownership.
Helping the Street Children of Manila
Every René Caovilla Imelda Marcos Shoe Print purchased helps support vulnerable children through Sole Support. A fixed amount of 25% of the value of each print is donated to accredited Philippine charities working on the frontline caring for homeless children living rough on the streets of Manila. Further details can be found here.
£79.00
About René Caovilla . . .
The history of René Caovilla began in 1923 in Fiesso d’Artico, near Venice, in an area renowned for Italian shoemaking. Designer René Fernando Caovilla subsequently combined the artisanal experience of his father, Edoardo, with a more innovative, couture-inspired approach to luxury footwear.
Venice has remained an important source of inspiration. The house identifies the mosaics of San Marco, Burano lace and Venetian crystal chandeliers among the influences on René Caovilla’s decorative aesthetic.
This helps explain why crystals and elaborate embellishment have become such recognisable features of Caovilla footwear. The house continues to describe its shoes as handmade, and contemporary designs still make extensive use of satin, crystals and ornamental detailing.
Did You Know?
One of René Caovilla’s most celebrated designs began with an unexpected source of inspiration: an ancient-style piece of jewellery.
In 1968, René Caovilla transformed the idea of a Roman snake bracelet into the celebrated Cleo shoe, whose serpentine strap coils around the ankle. The design became an emblem of the house and was subsequently displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The principle behind the Cleo — treating footwear almost as jewellery — can also be seen in the decorative character of the Imelda Marcos shoe portrayed here.
Its crystal embellishment, metallic lining and jewelled heel turn the pump from a functional object into something intended to sparkle and command attention.
Why Collect This René Caovilla Black Velvet Pumps Print?
The René Caovilla Black Velvet Pumps print captures one of the most decorative shoes represented in the Imelda Marcos Shoe Collection.
Black velvet provides a dramatic background for the crystals, while the silver metallic lining and jewelled three-inch heel create changing points of reflected light. The result is a shoe that sits somewhere between footwear and jewellery.
There is also a compelling historical contrast.
The original shoe represents luxury, craftsmanship and extraordinary personal consumption. A. J. Green’s portrait preserves it as an object connected with the internationally recognised story of Imelda Marcos and her shoes.
Through Sole Support, that symbolism is given a different purpose: an image associated with exceptional luxury can now help raise money for children experiencing extreme poverty.
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René Caovilla — Quick Facts
| Brand | René Caovilla |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Founded in | Fiesso d'Artico, near Venice, Italy |
| Designer | René Fernando Caovilla |
| Shoe Style | D'Orsay evening pumps |
| Material | Black velvet |
| Decoration | Crystal embellishment |
| Lining | Silver metallic |
| Heel | Jewelled 3-inch heel |
| Collection | Imelda Marcos Shoe Collection |
| Artwork | Original oil painting |
| Artist | A. J. Green |
| Print Type | Museum-quality art print |
| Charitable Purpose | Supporting vulnerable children |
