19thC Straits Chinese BEADED SLIPPERS Peranakan

Home > Worthopedia – Price Guide > Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art >

19thC Straits Chinese BEADED SLIPPERS Peranakan - NO R!

Terms and Conditions for using our site

19thC Straits Chinese BEADED SLIPPERS Peranakan - NO R!

Sold For:

or Sign In to see what it's worth.

Sold Date: 03/06/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

Authentic circa 1860 Straits Chinese Peranakan KASOT MANEK or KASUT KODOK Beaded Slippers worthy of Museum Status.

An original pair of hand made Kasot Manek (Shoe Bead) or Kasut Kodok (Frog Shoes) beadwork embroidered slippers from the second half of the 19th. C. Malaysia made by ethnic Chinese women, this pair of slippers is a fine examples of traditional embroidered and beaded footwear from women of the Chinese community living in Malaysia and therefore are a nice complement to shoes for bound feet as worn by Han Chinese women of the same period.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, a distinctive Chinese community evolved in Peninsular Malaya. The group flourished in the former British colonies along the Straits of Malacca, namely, Penang, Malacca and Singapore. The community is referred to as Straits Chinese, also known as Chinese Baba or simply Baba. The women are called Nyonya. From the late 19th century until WWII young Nyonya of marriageable age were taught to sew and embroider articles for their personal use as well as for their wedding ceremony. These included pillow covers, bed hangings and decorative panels used in the bridal chamber. Of special significance was the embroidering and beading of the wedding slippers. The prospective bride prepared a range of slippers to be presented as part of her wedding dowry, to the groom and his family. To show off the bride's work a special showcase of embroidered footwear was displayed in the bridal chamber. A pair of beaded slippers sewn by the bride herself would be worn for the first time on the third day of the wedding, and thereafter worn on less ceremonial occasions and eventually becoming casual footwear .

What makes me confident with a late 19th. C. date is the fact that these slippers were embroidered from beads that were imported from Europe, and the beads used on these slippers are 19th.C. Italian Venetian beads (in North America called the "greasy colors"because of the unique greasy translucent appearance found only in the Venetian beads) of exactly the same type as traded and used in North America in the 19th. C. There is minor bead loss but well over 95% of the beadwork remains intact. These are utilized, and there is some loss of silk on the soles as pictured. Manufacture markings on the heal on one slipper is exposed from the silk loss and pictured. These slippers measure approximately 9 1/2 inches.

I will be happy to answer any questions and provide any information that might assist you in your bidding. I have been doing eBay since the 1990's and have a 100% feedback rating, and I do not want to jeopradise this; so please ask all questions before bidding. I am starting this at a very low opening bid for such a rare artifact, so have fun. Please take the time to look at the many auctions I have on this week, and I am always happy to combine shipping. Thanks!!!!!!

Remember this is a NO RESERVE auction,