A maroon leather shoe, Egyptian, ca. AD300-500 (possibly). Decorated with embroiderd floral designs

A pair of flat shoes of maroon leather. Pointed toe and round heel. Turned technique. Sole: Straight. Scoring pattern of three lines. Two outer line curve with the shape of the sole (in 10 to 15mm from edge) and the third line runs down the centre. Upper: Stitching with fibre cord of upper to sole remains (running stitch). Vamp decorated with fine embroidery (silk?) with two circles either side of forepart, with a vertical line of long armed diamonds (with central circles) between them. Below that are two lines of curving across the vamp which cross each other at the centre, at the base of the line of diamonds. A circle sits either side and above these lines. The top line has one line of extended triangles following above it. The embroidery has the appearance of pierced decoration but on the flesh side of the vamp the fine threads remain. Crease down vamp centre. Centre knop is circular with a serrated edge and there are two much smaller circles, not serrated, wither side. Fishtail tabbed heel with a middle strip of leather.

Acquired from D.B.Myers.

A pair of maroon leather shoes, Egyptian, ca. AD300-500 (possibly). Decorated with embroidered floral designs. Made with the turned technique. Acquired from D.B.Myers.

Coptic footwear was generally made of leather, primarily using the turned technique to produce a slipper or shoe with a straight sole. Slippers often included a rand at the vamp and a fibre padded sole sewn together with prominent stitching or insole tab. They show variation in the form and height of the instep. Shoes were generally slip-ons and also show variation in the form and height of the instep. Footwear was highly decorated in geometric and floral designs. Often a variety of techniques were used in combination with the most popular being dyeing, gilding, openwork and appliqué.

844-1903