These traditional style Japanese men's shoes known as 'geta' are a fine example of contemporary Japanese footwear worn on formal or ceremonial occasions. Their provenance to Ken Myer, a prominent Australian businessman and philanthropist who tragically died in a light aeroplane crash in Alaska with his wife Yasuko Myer in 1992, makes them of particular significance. The museum has no contemporary 'geta' in the collection.

Geta are raised wooden sandals with straps, the woods used are paulownia, cedar, cypress, chestnut and oak. There are two broad categories of thonged footwear that are distinguished along the dimension of formality. Leather or cloth covered flat soled zori are formal, whereas the wooden geta are casual. Geta are usually worn sockless with casual wear.

These geta were presented to Ken and Yasuko Myer in Japan.

Sandals (geta) (pair), mens, wood / plastic, maker unknown, Japan, 1985-1992

Pair of contemporary mens geta with polished pawlonia wood base, cream patent plastic thong uppers and grey textured rubber soles. A paper label with maker's and trade marks on soles in Japanese text.

Made: Japan; 1985 - 1992

2003/56/1

1985 - 1992

68 mm

87 mm