RARE ANTIQUE PLASTER CAST- FOOT BINDING CHINESE LOTUS SLIPPERS BOUND SHOES

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

Up for auction is this very rare Lotus foot cast with Lotus shoe. The cast is made of plaster and would be used as a shoe form when sewing the Lotus shoe. I have taken many pictures.This is a wonderful display piece. Comes in its own box. The shoe has never been worn. Very bright and colorful. The sole is 2" long. 2.5" long from heel to tip of toe on the bottom. The shoe for the foot is 3.5" long. The heel is 1 1/4" tall. It is 2.5" from top of heel to top of heel pull. Their is a separate leggin that is 4" long to cover the leg of the cast. The foot is 3" long. It is 5" tall to top of leg. Their is discoloration on the foot form. Their is cotton binding wrapped around the foot.The wooden box is 7 1/4" tall,4.5" wide and 2.5" deep. With a metal handle on the top. Their is a painted symbol on the top of box and a label on the inside. I believe it is from the 19th century. Not sure I am no expert. They are from a collector that lived in Japan and traveled all over in the late 30's to 70's. Perhaps no other shoe in history has provided so much cultural fascination and ethical revulsion than the traditional Chinese practice of foot binding. Undertaken by (or enacted upon) young girls between the ages of 5 and 7, the binding process entails the breaking of the bones in the foot, and subsequent warping and (sometime) mutilation of the foot in order for it to remain a tiny size, ideally no longer than three inches in length (known as a “golden lily” by practitioners). This excruciating and ultimately crippling practice was begun during the 10th century, and was not thoroughly abolished until the late 1940s. While lotus slippers were usually made of silk, they were constructed of cotton in poorer provinces. Heels were often added to slippers belonging to aristocratic women. Due to the restrictive sizing of lotus slippers, many women only fit their (extended) toe into the shoe, wearing the heel outside of the slipper (resulting in a deep crevice between the heel and foot). Lotus slippers featured elaborate embroidery, typically sewn by the woman who was to wear them. The guidelines for appropriate slipper color were carefully observed by the wearers. Examples include red for festivities and the first pair, black for the elderly, and yellow exclusively for the imperial family. Although essentially a method of enfeebling and disenfranchising women in a patriarchal culture, the reasons for institutionalizing foot-binding were manifold within its heyday. Women with bound feet were seen as members of the upper class (due to diminished ability for movement and work), were considered more attractive, were seen as examples of good breeding, and generally fetched a higher price when they were married. The legacy of foot-binding and the slippers associated with the practice continue to inspire shock, horror, and artistic discovery. Overall, the viewer is invited to re-examine our own cultural aesthetic practices. Comes from a private smoke free collection. Great piece for any collection. Starting at low price with no reserve. See my other shoes and get free shipping when you win more than one pair. US bidders only.I have started all of my shoes at a very low price to let the bidder decide where the top bid should go. This piece is a very hard to find item and a must have for any Lotus collection. I have also started it at a very low price. . . THANKS SO MUCH FOR LOOKING... Please ask any questions prior to bidding. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. No returns accepted. Payment should be received within 7 days after the close of the auction or item may be offered to the next highest bidder. IMPORTANT NOTE: INSURANCE INCLUDED IN CALCULATED AMOUNT SHOWN. IF PURCHASING MULTIPLE ITEMS, PLEASE WAIT FOR MY INVOICE......NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, I CAN SAVE YOU MONEY ON SHIPPING AS COMPARED TO THE AUTOMATED INVOICING SERVICE FROM EBAY. SO, PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER ITEMS FOR SALE! I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COMBINE ITEMS WHENEVER POSSIBLE AND PRACTICAL TO SAVE YOU MONEY!! ITEMS NORMALLY SHIP W... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.