Both children's and women's shoes received special attention
from embroiderers in traditional Chinese culture.
Foot-binding practices focused attention on Lotus shoes,
coverings made for the tiny stunted and deformed feet that were
considered so erotic on Han Chinese girls and women. These tiny
shoes were almost entirely domestic production, not items made
in commercial workshops like so much other embroidery. In fact,
prized lotus shoes were often shown to the families of
prospective grooms, as evidence of a bride's charms and her
abilities as a needlewoman.
Chinese minority peoples generally did not practice foot
binding, but some groups produced lovely embroidered shoes for
special occasions. A few of these are shown below.
Click on the inventory numbers below to see larger photos.
Dong Embroidered Shoes Guizhou, China. Mid 20th century E-6295
For more information on Lotus Shoe traditions
and foot-binding in China see the publications below. We do not sell books; they are
listed here for your information.
Every Step a Lotus: Shoes for Bound Feet. Dorothy
Ko. Berkeley, 2001. 162 pages, 88
illustrations, most in color. ISBN 0-520-23284-4
Splendid Slippers: A Thousand Years of An Erotic
Tradition. Beverley
Jackson. Berkeley, 1997. 183 pages, fully
illustrated.
ISBN 0-90915-957-1
