Pair of Slippers
ca. 300-700
| Place of origin |
A pair of maroon leather slippers, Egyptian, ca. AD 300-700 (probably). Decorated with incisng and embossing. 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.
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Tanned leather with incising and embossing. |
| Brief description | A pair of maroon leather slippers, Egyptian, ca.AD 300-700 (probably). Decorated with incising and embossing. |
| Physical description | A pair of flat, maroon leather slippers. Egyptian, ca.AD 300-700 (probably). Semi-pointed toe and round heel (wide waist). Turned technique with rand. Sole: Straight. Treadsole 2mm thick. Insole: Originally padded with layer of reed or papyrus but now missing. Insole incised with floral design and the outline mimics the insole tabs on other sandals. Most incising missing but three line wither side come out from under vamp sides, circle round to form a circle at seat. Upper: Rand at vamp and wings only. Quarters are cut sharply as they come down to the seat. Sewn with running stitch. Vamp has shiny white residue over some areas. Decorated with embossed horizontal lines all down to instep (high throat) which ends in a small knop. Three incised lines cut across instep from either side and cross over at centre, flat V in shape. Deep crease in central line of vamp. |
| Style | |
| Object history | Acquired from D.B.Myers Esq. |
| Summary | A pair of maroon leather slippers, Egyptian, ca. AD 300-700 (probably). Decorated with incisng and embossing. 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. |
| Bibliographic reference | See R. Smalley, "Dating Coptic Footwear: A Typological and Comparative Approach", Journal of Coptic Studies 14 (2012): 97-135 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 842-1903 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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