Pair of Girl's Manchu Shoes
Artist:
Unknown
Place made:China
General region:Asia
Culture: Chinese
Period: Qing dynasty
Dynasty: Qing
Date: late- 19th century
Medium: Silk, wood, and leather
Dimensions:
h. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); l. 7 in. (17.8 cm); w. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. William Chilton
Object number: 44.47.a-b
Label Text
Shoes for Manchu GirlShoes Girl
China
Qing dynasty (1644-1911), late 19th century
Wood, leather, and embroidery on silk satin
Gift of Mrs. William Chilton
44.47.a-b
The relatively small size, embroidered ornamentation, and color palette indicate this pair of shoes was for a young Manchu girl. Unlike Chinese women, Manchu women did not undergo the painful process of foot-binding when growing up. Instead, they learned to accustom themselves to walking in elevated shoes while managing long gowns. The shoes are covered with cotton, supported by a stiff inner lining. Designs on the shoes were often embroidered by women at home, and the elevated wooden bases were made by a professional cobbler.
China
Qing dynasty (1644-1911), late 19th century
Wood, leather, and embroidery on silk satin
Gift of Mrs. William Chilton
44.47.a-b
The relatively small size, embroidered ornamentation, and color palette indicate this pair of shoes was for a young Manchu girl. Unlike Chinese women, Manchu women did not undergo the painful process of foot-binding when growing up. Instead, they learned to accustom themselves to walking in elevated shoes while managing long gowns. The shoes are covered with cotton, supported by a stiff inner lining. Designs on the shoes were often embroidered by women at home, and the elevated wooden bases were made by a professional cobbler.
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
