Not currently on display at the V&A

Slipper

ca. AD300-500 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Egypt (made)
Akhmim (made)

A black leather slipper, Egyptian, ca. AD300-500 (possibly). Decorated with a circular leather medallion.


Object details

Category
Africa
Object type
Slipper
Materials and techniques
Tanned and dyed leather with applique.
Leather
Tanning
Dyeing
Applique
Brief description
A black leather slipper, Egyptian, ca. AD300-500 (possibly). Decorated with a circular leather medallion.
Physical description
A flat, black leather slipper. Semi-pointed toe and round heel. Turned technique. Treadsole: Straight. Worn and creased. Cracked at seat. Stitching at waist and seat remains. Small hole at seat. Insole: A separate piece of leather has been applied to the waist. It ends in a pointed tab at the waist. Skinny waist (18mm wide) to circular seat (60mm diameter) with running stitch. Upper: Vamp has high throat ending in a point over the instep. The instep topband (5mm) is sewn with running stitch. Black leather, circular medallion (33mm diameter) centre of vamp, sewn with cross stitch (?). Quarters are partial as they run around from vamp to seat (one piece) cutting diagonally down to end in a point at the front of the seat (stitching broken so are unattached to sole). Holes in vamp at thread’s edge and right side over instep.
Dimensions
  • Length: 235mm
  • Tread width: 65mm
  • Waist width: 70mm
  • Seat width: 60mm
  • Sole at heel thickness: 4mm
Style
Coptic
Object history
Acquired by D.B. Myers.
Summary
A black leather slipper, Egyptian, ca. AD300-500 (possibly). Decorated with a circular leather medallion.
Bibliographic reference
See R. Smalley, "Dating Coptic Footwear: A Typological and Comparative Approach", Journal of Coptic Studies 14 (2012): 97-135
Collection
Middle East Section
Accession number
868-1903

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O355289/slipper-unknown/
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