A modern reproduction of a medieval turnshoe; right, being sewn on a shoe last, inside out, and left, rightside-out, on another lastCross-section through the heel of a reproduction turnshoeA shoemaker making turnshoes at the Roscheider Hof Open Air Museum (English subtitles)Reconstructions of turnshoes of the high and late Middle Ages, showing the characteristic thin, flexible sole (a stiff sole would prevent the shoe from being turned inside-out)
A turnshoe is a type of leather shoe that was used during the Middle Ages. It was so named because it was put together inside out, and then was turned right-side-out once finished: this hides the main seam between the sole and vamp—prolonging the life of the shoe[1] and inhibiting moisture leaking in through the seam.
In the beginning, turnshoes consisted of only one piece of leather sewn on only one side (see carbatinae). In the late early and the high medieval ages, turnshoes mostly consisted of one sole (cowhide or bovinae) and one piece of vamp or upper (goat or cowhide or caprinae/bovinae). In the late Middle Ages, additional elements were added, like doubled soles.
Later turnshoes often have more elaborate seams.[1] The cross-section image shows how the seams are on the inside; the turnshoe shown has a topband (dark leather edge strip), a heel stiffener, and a rand (a thin strip sewn into the seam between the sole and the upper). Some turnshoes lack all of these. Turnshoes were eventually made with outsoles sewn onto the rands; then the shoes came to be sewn right-side-out, creating the welted shoe, which displaced turnshoes in the beginning of the 16th century. Since welted shoes did not have to be turned inside-out, they could be made of much thicker leather.
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A turnshoe is a type of leather shoe that was used during the Middle Ages. It was so named because it was put together inside out, and then was turned...
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