Chinese Lotus Shoes Views

General Goods

Chinese men would eat the watermelon seeds or almonds placed between women's toes. Drinking from a cup inside the lotus shoes and/or even drinking straight out of the shoe itself, were other common practices. Besides these strange habits, some of the men also drank the water that the bound feet were washed in. The men treasured the bound feet like a precious piece of gold.

The practice of footbinding became a fashionable practice for the women. When they were done with the household chores, they spent their time designing their tiny shoes. The Chinese women became skillful crafters who embroidered exquisite designs. After the women completed a pair of shoes, they were extremely proud of their extraordinary and astonishing piece of work. A pair of beautifully embroidered lotus shoes was an object of fashion that the women wore with honor. As a result, needlework became a popular form of selfexpression. It was an art that could be seen on every pair of lotus shoes.

A pair of Northern Chinese made Lotus high heeled shoes with narrow soles and heels made of tan linen and having pointed toes. The soft sided uppers are made of magenta silk trimmed in green and black. The embroidery of Chinese symbols and dragons (good fortune / success) is very fine. There is minimal staining with very little wear and a minor tear on one heel. They are 5 inches long x 3 ¼ inches high and were made during the Qing Dynasty (1844 to 1911) / this pair circa 1890-1910.

These tiny shoes belong to a woman who practiced foot binding. In traditional china, bound feet reflected the favored shape amongst loony wealthy families. These women upheld the belief that their sole purpose was to serve their spouse, and normally shaped feet represented peasants who had to work. Elite men considered the result of this practice incredibly erotic. Women/sexidesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/22210sh1.jpg alt= chinese foot binding lotus shoes align= right /> Elite men considered the result of this practice incredibly erotic. Women<’s feet would resemble the naturally petite feet of renowned dancers, and in an effort to keep up with the elite, the practice spread amongst the classes.