Shoe thumbnail 1
Not on display

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Shoe

c.1855-79 (made)
Place of origin
India (made)

Shoe with curled-up toe, red leather velvet, gold, embroidered,

Object details

Categories
Footwear
Accessories
India Museum
Object type
Shoe
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
Red leather and velvet embroidered with gold thread
Leather
Velvet
Embroidery
Shoe-Making
Brief description
Shoe (ghatela) of red leather, velvet and gold embroidery with curled-up toe; India, c.1855-79
Physical description
Shoe with curled-up toe, red leather velvet, gold, embroidered,
Dimensions
  • Height: 300mm
  • Width: 100mm
  • Depth: 430mm (Note: These measurements were taken by conservation for the exhibition Shoes: Pleasure and Pain )
Gallery label
(2015-2016)
Label for the exhibition Shoes: Pleasure and Pain
Sitting Down Shoes
The turned-up toe found in northern India, was taken to its extreme in these ghatela. The fantastic long curved toes curl back over the foot and measure about 20 cm in length. The gold decoration and impractical design of the shoes denotes their purpose as visual signifiers of wealth and status.
The wearer would only manoeuvre short distances, shuffling forward on their heels.
Men’s ghatela
1855–79
India
Leather, velvet, metal thread
embroidery and brass
V&A: 6749, 6779(IS)
Object history
On display in the V&A exhibition, Shoes: Pleasure and Pain between 13 June 2015 – 31 January 2016.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
6749(IS)

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O446772/shoe/
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