A pair of red and black leather slippers, ca. AD300-700, Egyptian; Decorated with geometric designs in gold leaf.

An incomplete pair of red and black flat leather slippers. Egyptian ca. AD 300-700 (probably). Poor condition. Round toe and round heel. Turned technique with rand at vamp (3mm). Treadsole: Straight. Insole: Seat and waist have reinforcing band stitched round perimeter (8mm wide at waist), running stitch. Midsole layer of black leather that may have ended in a pointed tab at the top of the skinny waist. Upper: Red leather at forepart. Band of black, applied leather over instep half of the vamp that continues around as the quarters. Quarters are cut down on a diagonal and end at the start of the seat. Vamp ends over instep (mid-throat) in a slight point. Black band sewn on with running stitch (60mm wide at instep point) is decorated with small row of gold squares at top edge; gold triangles within lines across the main area; centre row of short crosses between triangles with diamonds at end of each cross arm; small squares and triangles are at the point over instep and squares continue round edge. The band is turned over (14mm wide) so inside of quarters have a decorated black band, while the out of quarters have no decoration (black only).

Purchased from Henry Wallis

A red and black flat pair of leather slippers. Egyptian ca. AD 300-700 (probably). Made using the turned technique, with rand.Decorated with geometric designs in gold leaf. These slippers were aquired from H. Wallis 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.

447-1887