FOUNDERS OF ROME

Sometimes something hidden in plain sight reveals a fascinating history.

What first appeared to be a beautiful pair of early 20th century French riding boots quickly became something far more interesting.

Inside the shaft was the stamp:

W. Bennett & Co
Bottiers Anglais
86 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris. W. Bennett & Co, “Bottiers Anglais”, located on Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris — a prestigious address associated with high-end bespoke craftsmanship.

Why this matters is that it places the boots firmly within the right period, location and level of quality associated with the expedition material we were shown alongside them.

While viewing the boots in France, we were also shown archival images and material relating to the Citroën expeditions of the 1920s and 30s, including photographs of Louis Audouin-Dubreuil and expedition members wearing remarkably similar boots.

We are now carefully researching and piecing together the provenance — verifying what we know, and what we suspect.

These will be heading to auction rather than appearing on our website. Direct message us with interest. The story will continue to unfold!

A hand picked mix of antique confit pots, cruche, grain vessels and vintage kitchen forms — sourced for their shape, glaze, age and patina.

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