This pair of slipper faces are a fine examples of traditional embroidered and beaded footwear from Malaysia made in the early 20th century by ethnic Chinese women. These faces 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 slipper faces were made by Nyonya women in Penang, Malaysia in sometime between 1920-1940.

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 faces were used by Nyonya women in Penang, Malaysia.

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.

Slipper faces (2), unmade, cotton velvet/cardboard, Nyonya women, Penang, Malaysia, 1920-1940.

Rectangular piece of pink cotton velvet with one selvedge bearing the ready to embroider outlines of two round toed slippers. The design is of glued on bits of cardboard and may be a carp surrounded by foliage with scallops defining the opening for the foot.

Made: Nyonya women; Penang, Malaysia; 1920 - 1940


Used: Nyonya women; Penang, Malaysia; 1920 - 1940

2004/13/4

1920 - 1940

255 mm

195 mm