Pair of Shoes
ca. AD300-700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A pair of flat, black leather baby’s shoes. Egyptian, ca. AD300-700 (probably). Made with the turned technqiue. Acquired from D.B. Myers.
Coptic footwear was primarily made with leather, often 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 primarily made with leather, often 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 and dyed leather |
| Brief description | A pair of black, leather baby's shoes, Egyptian, ca. AD300-700 (probably). |
| Physical description | A pair of flat, black leather baby’s shoes. Egyptian, ca. AD300-700 (probably). Pointed toe and round heel. Turned technique. Sole: Straight. Slightly raised at seat, possibly molded. Upper: Black leather (natural creases of leather are obvious) with red leather topband (damaged; 3mm wide) sewn with whip stitch. High throat end in a point. Heel ends in a fishtail tab with rounded fins, with red strip of leather continuing down backseam. Toe pointed and curls up. |
| Style | |
| Object history | Acquired from D.B. Myers. |
| Summary | A pair of flat, black leather baby’s shoes. Egyptian, ca. AD300-700 (probably). Made with the turned technqiue. Acquired from D.B. Myers. Coptic footwear was primarily made with leather, often 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 | 864-1903 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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