A pair of maroon leather shoes, Egyptian, ca. 30 BC - AD 300 (possibly). Decorated with applied gold leaf.

A pair of flat, maroon leather shoes. Egyptian, ca. 30 BC - AD 300 (possibly). Semi-pointed toe and round heel. One piece construction. Treadsole: Straight. A stitching seam starts at forepart, follows down the centre of the treadsole and becomes the backseam. Insole: Includes a thin insole of leather. Stitching of sole can only be seen at backseam. May have been decorated as a patch of gilded leather (damaged) reamins just above the waist. The patch is floral in nature Upper: Low throated vamp with floral design of applied, openworked, gilded leather, unevenly cut shapes within. The medallion has a seated edge and forms a triangle with corners cutoff. Appears glued. Two impressed lines around top of shoe. Bottom line starts on medial side, follows round quarters and vamp, to end lateral side of backseam. Top line goes all the way around. Top edge of quarters/vamp is turned over and sewn with whip stitch.

Acquired from D.B.Myers.

A pair of flat, maroon leather shoes. Egyptian, ca. 30 BC - AD 300 (possibly), Roman period. One piece construction, decorated with applied gold leaf. Acquired from D.B.Myers Esq.

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.

838-1903