Not currently on display at the V&A

Pair of Shoes

ca. AD300-700 (Made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A pair of embroidered, dark leather shoes, Egyptian, ca. AD300-700 (probably). Made with the turned technique. Acquire 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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
Tanned leather, dyed and embroidered.
Brief description
A pair of embroidered, dark leather shoes, Egyptian, ca. AD300-700 (probably).
Physical description
A flat, dark leather shoe. Egyptian, ca. AD300-700 (probably). Semi-pointed toe, round heel. Turned technique. Sole: Straight. Fibre attaching sole to upper (running stitch) remains and is slightly red. Scoring pattern around perimeter. Seat appears slightly moulded – higher and rounds up. Upper: Topband (2mm wide) remains round most main edge, sewn with whip stitch. Instep (med. throat) ends with an oval knop. Heel has thin strip of leather at backseam and ends in a fishtail tab. Vamp decoration is embroidery (with silk?) of eight star surrounding a central star. Each alternate star is joined by a curved line so creating two diamonds overlapping each other (with the one star at the centre). Inside there is a second layer of leather around the quarters and the vamp sides. The area of embroidery is without a second layer.
Style
Object history
Acquired from D.B.Myers Esq.
Summary
A pair of embroidered, dark leather shoes, Egyptian, ca. AD300-700 (probably). Made with the turned technique. Acquire 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
848-1903

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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