This pair of slippers are a fine examples of traditional embroidered and beaded footwear from Malaysia made in the early 20th century by ethnic Chinese women. These slippers were made by 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.

In the 1940s interest in traditional Nyonya embroidery waned and influenced by Western fashion many women were married in white wedding gowns and western footwear. With the resurgence in all things Nyonya in the late 1970s traditional methods of beading and embroidery came back into fashion.

These slippers were made by Nyonya women in Malacca, Malaysia in c.1900.

The uppers were embroidered by Nyonya, ethnic Chinese women living in Malaysia. 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.

The Nyonya crafted only the upper sides of the slipper. The ground fabric was loosely stretched over a rectangular wooden frame and embroidered or beaded. When completed, the embroidered pieces were cut out, pasted with sago starch onto layers of gauze or cotton, and made into slippers by a cobbler.

These slippers were used by Nyonya women in Malacca, Malaysia in c.1900.

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.

Slippers (pair), leather/cardboard/cloth/hemp/metal thread/beads, with embroidered uppers, Nyonya women, Malacca, Malaysia, c.1900.

Pair of slippers (kasut kodok or 'frog shoes') with covered toe and open back. The flat leather soles rising at the toes are made with layers of cardboard and edged with silk braid. They are stitched with twine and nailed to the uppers. The inner sole is made of red leather and the uppers lining of red cotton. The uppers have been hand embroidered while being loosely stretched over a wooden frame. Pieces of coloured velvet material have been glued to the silk base to provide a varied and colourful background for the embroidery for which shaped pieces of cardboard act as a form. Silver and gold metallic thread and silk thread embroidery, sequins, and beads are incorporated in the design of 2 seated rabbits on either side of the central quatrefoil motif together with a scrolling foliate design. A semi-circular toe piece provides a distinctive shape for the slippers.

Made: Nyonya women; Malacca, Malaysia; 1890 - 1910


Used: Nyonya women; Malacca, Malaysia; 1895 - 1905

2004/13/1

1890 - 1910

40 mm

80 mm