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Chinese lotus shoes
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For over a thousand years, Chinese women's beauty was judged by the size of their feet. The ideal foot was three inches long, and shaped like a lotus bud. Over 90% of women in China bound their feet, including women from all classes and regions. A woman spent many hours making and embroidering her own shoes. She needed sixteen pairs of shoes before her wedding, four for each season, including sleeping slippers and red special occasion shoes. Needlework, as represented on these shoes, was Chinese women's main creative outlet for a thousand years. These shoes are from our most recent trip to Beijing. Please email us for more photos of any that interest you, or to order.
Padded winter shoes in black shoes with a bamboo embroidered design Silk, 7" long, circa 1890 $300
On the left: Sleeping shoes for the wedding night Cotton, 6", circa 1910 $250
On the right: Young girl's shoes, perhaps the first pair she wore after having her feet bound, at the age of 5 or 6 Silk, 4", circa 1890 $250
On the left: Black shoes from Beijing witht a crocheted pompom on the toe Silk, 6 1/4", circa 1930 $250
On the right: Blue shoes freom Shandong Silk, 6 1/4", circa 1890 $165
Single shoe with fine embroidered figures Silk, 5" $195
Read more about lotus shoes in our newsletter "Notes from the Road". We recommend Splendid Slippers by Beverley Jackson as an essential resource for anyone collecting or interested in lotus shoes. |
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