Black Loafer with Printed Tiger Panel

A tiger is printed over the apron and vamp in blue and gold, running from the toe up to the throat. The face is white and amber with pale blue specks under the jaw. Above the strap the print goes out of focus, soft lavender and cream light behind white dots. The rest is black calf, cut clean, with faint brush marks in the polish.

A plain black leather strap crosses over it, which crops the image and stops it looking like a novelty shoe. Each end is set into the quarter and held with a square block of zigzag stitching. Leather sole with a low stacked heel. The sole edge is dark brown and a second brown band steps out under the toe.

The printed panel is seamed into the vamp in dark thread, and the seam closes short of the toe, so the toe stays plain black. At the throat that edge is folded and stitched a few millimetres in, and the fold shows a pale grey core. Inside, the lining is pale beige, the only light colour here that is not print.