Woman's shoes

NameShoes

CultureShui

Date1980s

Probably madeGUIZHOU PROVINCE, China, East Asia, Asia

MediumSilk, cotton, horsehair, commercial ribbon, bamboo

Dimensions3 1/8 × 11 × 3 15/16 in. (8 × 28 × 10 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Melinne Owen and Paul Giguere in honor of Dr. Victor Wang and Lucy Xin Liu, A.2019.1.1ab

Object numberA.2019.1.1ab

ProvenanceMelinne Owen acquired these from Dr. Victor Wang, whom she met when he was a student at Luxan Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, China. Melinne and her husband Paul remained friends with Dr. Wang after he moved to the US and taught at Fontbonne University in St. Louis for 30 years. Acquired by Dr. Victor Wang directly from maker in southwest China during the 1980s or 1990s. Given as a gift to Melinne Owen and Paul Giguere. These shoes were given to donor as part of a business transaction, a token to seal the deal. They were taken directly off the wife's feet.

DescriptionA pair of handmade silk shoes; The upturned and pointed-toe shoes have a red silk ground embroidered with stylized floral and leaf designs in purple and black, covering the toe and vamp areas. The heel area has a black appliqued floral design. The embroidery and applique are couched by 3 to 4 strands of horsehair wrapped with silk thread. The soles are constructed with layers of cotton stitched together, and blue cotton lines the footbed. A commercial ribbon of purple and pink is sewn around the opening and the center of the heel area.