R 01
Late 19th - early 20th c. Shanxi-province Jin-style with blue cotton uppers and white cotton lowers. Prefabricated ribbon around collar. Quarters stiffened with exposed bamboo boning. Floral motif silk thread embroidery on toe tips. Quilted, stacked and padded cotton soles. Heavily worn. 4.5 in. x 1.75 in. x 3.5 in.
R 02
Late 19th - early 20th c. Northern style lotus shoes with removable slip on “Shaw Shoes”, (wooden cleats). Shoes: turquoise silk uppers with silk thread embroidered floral motif. White padded cotton soles. Black ribbon w/ geometric pattern around moon gate with pink silk filler down front. Cleats: Hardened leather base with hand carved wood cleats. Purple silk exterior w/ embroidered floral motif and sequin ribbons. Light blue heel lifts. From Beijing (7/24/2001). Good condition. Shoes: 3.5 in. x 1.5 in. x 3 in. Slip on Cleats: 4 in. X 2 in. X 3.25 in.
R 03
Early 20th c. Shanxi region sleeping shoes. Cylindrical heels covered in purple silk with colorfully embroidered elaborate bat motif and metallic thread couching. Turquoise silk heel with metallic thread embroidery and butterfly motif ribbon. Flower stitch on padded cotton soles. Green heel strap with shiny red embellishment. Women with bound feet wore sleeping shoes to bed. To step out of bed they would often strap on a set of heels or slip into soft sided over shoes often with heels and soles such as these. 2 in. x 2 in. x 3.25 in.
R 04
Early 20th c. Northern-style wooden sole shoes for bad weather. Uncovered wooden sole is attached to padded sole with hemp fiber twine. Small leather pad near toe also attached with hemp fiber. Green uppers with silk embroidered floral motif at toes. Moon gate ornamented with black ribbon featuring colorful flower pattern. Ankle wrap tucked inside shoes. Blue heel lifts and heel lift reinforcement. Prefabricated ribbon surrounding soles. 6 in. x 2 in. x 4 in.
R 05
Early 20th c. Shanxi-style fifth phase mourning shoes with English newspaper design on the left sides of both. Cotton and English newsprint uppers with colorful silk avian and floral motif embroidery. One side of one shoe has deep red upper with similar colorful silk floral motif embroidery. Ribbon w/ triangular geometric pattern adorns the collar. Wooden heels and soles covered in silk ribbon with floral design. Sole support covered with thin leather. The ladder rungs on both shoes are split. 3 in. X 1.5 in x 2.5 in.
R 06
Early 20th c. Woven grass raffia lotus shoes with solid carved wood heels. For walking on sand & soil. Heel attached with glue. Worn but vey good condition. Straw shoes, or straw sandals. Straw shoes were worn by almost all people in ancient China regardless of social ranks; nomadic tribes were the exception. Different types of leaves and leaves would be woven together to create these types of shoes. 6 in. X 2.5 in x 3 in.
R 07
Late 19th - early 20th c. From western China with Shandong style heel. Hole in heel of left shoe designed for children’s stilt game or an operatic theatrical production. Red cotton pads on bottom of sole. Coral color bottoms with floral motif embroidery. Green floral ribbon around moon gate. Black uppers with turquoise Ribbon around middle. Bright blue heel lift straps. 3 in. x 2 in. x 6 in.
R 08
Late 19th - early 20th c. Probably Shanxi region. Ceremonial slippers to be ritually burned. Usually for 4 - 6 year olds. Possibly burned as an offering to Kwan-Yin, (goddess of mercy) for a favorable beginning to a child’s first foot binding, or in reverence to a deceased relative. Oddly shaped quilted red cotton soles with blue trim. Black backside with purple fronts. Fronts are embellished with blue and gold ribbon and black pom-poms on toe. Lime green heel lifts. 4 in. x 1.25 in. x 1.75 in.
R 10
Late 19th - early 20th c. Southern Anhui -style hobnail cleats for special occasions. Many layers of hardened leather sole pads with hand carved wooden cleats nailed into place. Pointed toe uppers made of silk and cotton in blue, turquoise and orange with elaborately embroidered colorful floral, coin and butterfly motifs. Gold thread stitching and couching throughout. Yellow ribbon surrounding lower collar couched with gold thread. Red heel lifts embroidered with gold thread swastikas. Minor wear to black satin trim on both top and bottom. Small purple thread knot on tip of each toe. 5 in. x 2 in. x 3.25 in.
R 11
Early 20th c. Shandong style wet weather treated outdoor lotus shoe booties. Wax and resin treated black cotton uppers with bright red, blue and white elaborately rendered butterfly motif embroideries on left sides of shoe and blue and white silk floral motif embroidery on right sides. Resin treated quilted cotton sole w/ hardened leather for better grip. Padded white cotton insoles. Well worn. Used to wear over finer lotus shoes or slippers when venturing outdoors in poor weather. 6.5 in. X 2.5 in. x 3 in.
R 12
Early 20th c. Shandong style wet weather treated outdoor lotus shoe booties. Possibly wedding booties. Used to wear over finer lotus shoes or slippers when venturing outdoors in poor weather. Orange satin resin treated uppers w/ green and white floral motif embroidery over arches. Red and black heel with typical Shandong style leather cushion pads on toe and heel. Pink and blue prefabricated ribbon with buddhist symbols and Chinese characters circling the top. Bamboo slats inside for heel support and structural stability. Missing heel red lifts. 7 in. X 2.75 in. x 4 in.
R 14
Qing Dynasty, late 19th - early 20th c. Fujian or Taiwan style prayer shoes with figurative and floral embroidery motifs. Red satin uppers, orange heel with floral, or possibly rudimentary bat symbol embroidery with thick green trim. Pink heel lifts. Flat quilted cotton soles. Made as an offering to Guan-Yin, (Goddess of Mercy). Offered to goddess by mother on the night before breaking and binding daughters feet for the first time. 3 in. X 1 in. X 3 in.
R 15
Early 20th c. Slip on Northern-style lotus shoe sandals. Black cotton heel lower with pink satin upper colorfully embroidered with chili and floral motif. Blue and red toe strap. Thin pink hemp rope ankle strap. Multi layered quilted cotton soles. To be worn over lotus shoe or slippers. 4.5 in. x 1.75 in. x 2.25 in.
R 16
Qing Dynasty Late 19th - early 20th c. Southern Anhui style. Overshoe hobnail cleats for snowy weather. To slip on over day lotus shoes or sleeping slippers. Layered leather sole with carved wooden cleats nailed into place with hand forged iron nails. Red satin uppers with simple animal, mountain, fortress and floral silk embroidery motifs. Black heel lift reinforcements. Black ribbon trim around toe hole and top. Padded and quilted cotton insole. Open heel, lightly worn. 3.5 in. X 2 in. x 3 in.
R 17
Qing Dynasty Late 19th - early 20th c. Southern Anhui style winter hobnail lotus shoe cleats. Layered leather sole with carved wooden cleats nailed into place. Red cotton uppers in front, black satin heels. Floral embroidered motif with colorful pink, green and gold thread on red uppers and black heel. Black trim around upper and lower collars. White satin top line with gold couching. Heels with pink lifts, ornamented with red swastikas. 5 in. x 1.75 in. x 3 in.
R 18
20th c. Modern western style black satin slippers with floral motif, (lotus) silk embroidery. Small red pom-pomms at center of flower. Insoles are padded blue cotton with prefabricated natural Puka shell pattern. White silk ribbon around the tongue. Copper metal eyelets. No laces. Worn and faded blue soles with red pattern stitching. 6.5 in. X 2 in. X 3 in.
R 19
Late 19th - early 20th c. Northern style tanned leather shoes with hand carved wooden cleats attached with hand forged iron nails, (2 cleats missing). Layered leather and carved wood sole with leather pull on strap on top front. 7 in. X 2 in. X 6 in.
R 20
Late 19th - early 20th c. Northern style wooden slat cleat snow shoes with hand forges iron nail cleat studs, (3 missing). Padded cotton blue and white top line with simple blue and white hand stitched floral motif. Moderate damage and wear from use. Tiny metal ball at base of moon gate. Layered leather soles. White cotton padded insoles. 9 in. X 3.75 in. X 8 in.
R 21
Early 20th c. Modern northern style black satin slippers with white cotton heel lifts and padded white cotton insoles. Padded grey cotton soles with hand stitched elaborate auspicious symbol motif. 6.25 in. X 2 in. X 2 in.
R 22
Early 20th c. Modern style women’s cotton bound foot lotus shoes. Grey cotton with blue trim around top. Blue cotton soles with white stitch pattern. Hand carved uncovered wooden heels. Cotton ankle strap with metal ball clasp. Dark blue short linen heel lifts. 5.5 in. X 2 in. X 3 in.