Shoe

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-footwear

Datec. 1875

Made AtChina, Asia

MediumSilk, paper, braid and cloth

Dimensions6 1/4 × 1 7/8 × 5 1/4 in. (15.9 × 4.8 × 13.3 cm)

Credit LineGift of Miss Grace M. Rowley

Object number38045.12

DescriptionThese Chinese silk shoes were worn by women with bound feet. The custom of binding women's feet lasted about a thousand years. Tiny shoes like these were worn over bandaged feet and were worked in delicate motifs embroidered in stitches appropriate to the scale of the shoes. The shoes were created by first pasting layers of paper together and then adding the brightly-colored silk, embroidery, and other embelishments on top.

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