Pair of Manchu Leather Ice Shoes

c. 1900
$380 USD SOLD
Dimensions
W: 9.5" D: 4.5" H: 6.0"
Materials
Wood
Leather
Collection #
CMK025
Estimated Shipping
$20

Although Manchu women of the Qing dynasty did not bind their feet, they nevertheless achieved an illusion of small feet by wearing high-platform shoes. Said to have originated when female workers attached blocks of wood to their shoes to protect from snakes, such platform shoes became a fashionable way to emulate popular styles. In addition to adding height, the shoes required women to hold a straight posture and swing their arms to maintain balance, giving them a stately, feminine air. This pair of rustic 19th-century leather and wood shoes from northern China were both elegant and practical, with spiked platforms that enabled women to keep their footing on icy walkways - even in the precarious footwear.

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Elizabeth Krueger | Elizabeth Krueger Design

“PAGODA RED was extremely supportive in helping to pull accessory options together for the Lake Forest Showhouse. After providing them with details and our vision on how we were looking to finish our space, Laurene helped curate options that made it easy for us to edit and finalize. It's also no surprise that the unique pieces we used in our showhouse space were some of the first to sell.”

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