Sandal thumbnail 1
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Sandal

ca. 30 BC - AD 300 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A raised sandal, pointed toe and semi- pointed heel. Egyptian, ca. 30 BC - AD 300 (possibly). Worn. Treadsole: Layer of packed papyrus (?) 3mm thick.Outer edge wrapped with a strip of black leather 8mm wide. Strip missing from waist down. Grain of fibre runs vertically. Thin strip of gold painted around side perimeter. Blackened. Some small holes. Broken at waist. Midsole: Layer of 15mm thick, tightly packed papyrus ?. Grain of fibre changes direction along the sole but much is horizontal. Side of the layer have been carved into a scallop shaped edge (9mm thick) with a strip of gold painted along centre. Top section of this layer is a flat edge (6mm thick) also with a gold stripe. Broken at waist. Treadsole and midsole may be same layer. Insole: Layer of 1mm thick gilded leather applied to the main sole. Decorated with three lines of concentric circles - 1 down centre and 1 either side. Outer circle diameter of 23mm and inner circles diameter of 12mm. Circles contain smalled raised dots and a line of small raised dots runs around the insole perimeter. Circles appear to be incised while dots may be embossed. Deep crack at waist and seat blackened. Straps: Two loops (leather of nails?) on either side of seat. The foot strap would have attached here. Simple straps from forepart (between toes) to either side of seat. 7mm wide and 1mm thick. Stained black at forepart where it threads under insole and pokes out 20mm further towards the tip. Most strap is gilded leather but now is very faded; then returns to black stain where connected to seat. Half of the right strap reamins but is broken at waist. All left strap remains but broken away from seat. They are semi-circular in cut. The left strap is approx. 170mm long from seat to point of insertion under insole.



Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
A tanned leather and papyrus sandal with gilding, carving, incising, dyeing and punchwork.
Brief description
A leather and papyrus sandal, Egyptian, ca. 30BC - AD 300. Elaborately decorated with gold leaf and carving.
Physical description
A raised sandal, pointed toe and semi-pointed heel. Egyptian, ca. 30 BC - AD 300 (possibly). Worn. Treadsole: Layer of packed papyrus (?) 3mm thick.Outer edge wrapped with a strip of black leather 8mm wide. Strip missing from waist down. Grain of fibre runs vertically. Thin strip of gold painted around side perimeter. Blackened. Some small holes. Broken at waist. Midsole: Layer of 15mm thick, tightly packed papyrus ?. Grain of fibre changes direction along the sole but much is horizontal. Side of the layer have been carved into a scallop shaped edge (9mm thick) with a strip of gold painted along centre. Top section of this layer is a flat edge (6mm thick) also with a gold stripe. Broken at waist. Treadsole and midsole may be same layer. Insole: Layer of 1mm thick gilded leather applied to the main sole. Decorated with three lines of concentric circles - 1 down centre and 1 either side. Outer circle diameter of 23mm and inner circles diameter of 12mm. Circles contain smalled raised dots and a line of small raised dots runs around the insole perimeter. Circles appear to be incised while dots may be embossed. Deep crack at waist and seat blackened. Straps: Two loops (leather of nails?) on either side of seat. The foot strap would have attached here. Simple straps from forepart (between toes) to either side of seat. 7mm wide and 1mm thick. Stained black at forepart where it threads under insole and pokes out 20mm further towards the tip. Most strap is gilded leather but now is very faded; then returns to black stain where connected to seat. Half of the right strap reamins but is broken at waist. All left strap remains but broken away from seat. They are semi-circular in cut. The left strap is approx. 170mm long from seat to point of insertion under insole.
Dimensions
  • Length: 245mm
  • Tread width: 58mm
  • Waist width: 40mm
  • Seat width: 45mm
  • Sole thickness: 16mm
Styles
Credit line
Acquired from H. Wallis Esq.
Object history
Objects 2-1888 to 9-1888 bought together for £12, from Henry Wallis.
Association
Summary
A raised sandal, pointed toe and semi- pointed heel. Egyptian, ca. 30 BC - AD 300 (possibly). Worn. Treadsole: Layer of packed papyrus (?) 3mm thick.Outer edge wrapped with a strip of black leather 8mm wide. Strip missing from waist down. Grain of fibre runs vertically. Thin strip of gold painted around side perimeter. Blackened. Some small holes. Broken at waist. Midsole: Layer of 15mm thick, tightly packed papyrus ?. Grain of fibre changes direction along the sole but much is horizontal. Side of the layer have been carved into a scallop shaped edge (9mm thick) with a strip of gold painted along centre. Top section of this layer is a flat edge (6mm thick) also with a gold stripe. Broken at waist. Treadsole and midsole may be same layer. Insole: Layer of 1mm thick gilded leather applied to the main sole. Decorated with three lines of concentric circles - 1 down centre and 1 either side. Outer circle diameter of 23mm and inner circles diameter of 12mm. Circles contain smalled raised dots and a line of small raised dots runs around the insole perimeter. Circles appear to be incised while dots may be embossed. Deep crack at waist and seat blackened. Straps: Two loops (leather of nails?) on either side of seat. The foot strap would have attached here. Simple straps from forepart (between toes) to either side of seat. 7mm wide and 1mm thick. Stained black at forepart where it threads under insole and pokes out 20mm further towards the tip. Most strap is gilded leather but now is very faded; then returns to black stain where connected to seat. Half of the right strap reamins but is broken at waist. All left strap remains but broken away from seat. They are semi-circular in cut. The left strap is approx. 170mm long from seat to point of insertion under insole.

Bibliographic reference
Frauberger, Heinrich. Antike und fruhmittelalterliche fussbekleidungen aus Achmin-Panoplois. Dusseldorf: [n.p.], [1896], 48p.,ill. PlateIV, no.7.
Collection
Accession number
7-1888

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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