Chinese Purple and Gold Embroidered Shoes for Bound Feet
DateQing Dynasty, late 19th century
Object NameShoes
Mediumsilk, cotton
ClassificationsFashion and Dress
DimensionsLeft shoe: height 5.2cm, width 6cm, length 13cm
Right shoe: height 5.5cm, width 6cm, length 13.3cm
Right shoe: height 5.5cm, width 6cm, length 13.3cm
AcquisitionCatherine Weller Bequest, 2017.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS093670
About MeIn China, women bound their feet as a symbol of beauty until the early 20th century.
These shoes for bound feet have a white appliqué butterfly on the toe of each shoe. In China the butterfly is a symbol of love and joy. Couching of gold thread has been used to embroider the butterflies' antennae.
The shoes have been embroidered using blue, orange and black satin stitch, pine needle stitch, blanket stitch and Quajin (circling with gold).
They are lined with white cotton and have a white cotton sole attached with a random pattern of small individual white stitches.
Qing Dynasty, late 19th century
Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period, 1875-1908
James Cromar Watt
Qing Dynasty, 19th century
Qing Dynasty, mid 19th century
Qing Dynasty, mid - late 19th century
