1900 Chinese Woman’s Slippers for Bound Feet

National Museum of American History

Object Details

unknown
Description
Mrs. Lee had bound feet her entire life. Her daughter, Grace Mok, noted in an oral history that her limited mobility and difficulty in walking required her to be accompanied wherever she went. Though these are not Ng Shee Lee’s shoes, they are similar to those she wore.
Foot binding in China may have originated as early as 900 AD. Though outlawed by the conquering Manchus in the 17th century, the Han Chinese retained the social practice into the 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Mrs. William Chapin Huntington
1900
ID Number
AG.A.2937
accession number
1926.93542
catalog number
A.2937
A002937
Object Name
woman's shoe for bound feet
Shoes
Object Type
Shoes
Physical Description
silk (overall material)
leather (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 4 in x 4 in; 10.16 cm x 10.16 cm
place made
China: Shanghai, Shanghai
See more items in
Work and Industry: Agriculture
Family & Social Life
Cultures & Communities
Clothing & Accessories
Chinese American
National Museum of American History
referenced
Shoe
Chinese Americans
Record ID
nmah_1362083
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-0e67-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
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