When it comes to sentimental value, few novelty items carry as much weight as bronzed baby shoes. These adorable little shoes, immortalized in a rich patina, commemorate a child’s first steps. The following guide sheds light on the origins of this tradition.

What Is the History of Bronzed Baby Shoes?

Though the process of bronzing items started around 5,000 years ago, it wasn’t until 1930 when Violet Shinbach noticed a pair of bronzed baby shoes in a department store and inspiration struck. By 1934, her company, the American Bronzing Company, began producing bronzed baby shoes and marketing them as the ultimate keepsake. She went door to door, targeting homes that looked as though they had small children and pitching her product to young mothers. Demand for these novelty items boomed as word-of-mouth traveled. By the 1970s, the American Bronzing Company was bronzing 2,000 pairs of shoes a day. 

Why Are Baby Shoes Used? 

It wasn’t how cute the little bronzed baby shoes at the department store were that struck Shinbach; it was the sentiment they embodied. Baby shoes lend a nostalgic nod toward a significant childhood event—the first steps. While all firsts are significant in a child’s life, the first steps mark the beginning of a new era. The moment that first step is made, they’re no longer babies. Bronzing their shoes captures this moment in time and freezes it forever. 

What Brought on the Revival of Bronzed Baby Shoes?

Bronzed baby shoes were wildly popular when Shinbach brought the idea to the public, but the excitement of these tiny keepsakes peaked in the 1970s. However, their popularity began to wane. Door-to-door sales and retail catalogs sent by mail carried these novelty items until the 1990s, where they had all but became a lost art.

It wasn’t until recently that bronzed baby shoes started making a comeback, in large part due to social media. Parenting groups on Facebook and creative digital marketing of these perfectly Instagrammable little keepsakes helped revive this sentimental tradition, though it came a little too late for the American Bronzing Company, which closed its doors for good in 2018. 

Are you looking to commemorate your child’s first steps with a pair of bronzed baby shoes? Patty-Cakes® International, was established in 1946 in Denver CO. It has had a presence in the St. Louis area for over 6o years and has been in the business of crafting quality ornamental keepsakes and novelty items. These artisans follow a strict 35-step process to ensure the quality of every piece they create, from shadow boxes to plaques, and paperweights. Visit them online to view their wide selection of products, or call them today at (855) 785-7288 to speak with a representative.