Shoes Item Number: Ef126 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Pair of men's shoes, slip-on style, with squared toes, and pointed tongues as well as heel backs. The uppers are cut from one piece of tan leather edged with narrow strips of tan leather and attached by thin green leather stitching. Separate triangular leather reinforcements at upper heels are also stitched with green leather. A thick sole is formed by glued layers of leather with extra layers forming the heel and half sole at the front of each shoe. Upper are glued and sewn with a thick strand of fibrous jute (?) string.

History Of Use

The conditions in this area, unlike most parts of India, necessitate strong shoes. The ground is hard, sandy, and desert-like. This type of shoe molds to the foot and lasts for years. The style of the shoe is; pointed toe, slip-on, raised tongue and back, generally recognized as a Muslim type. It shows the influence of the close association of Rajasthan with the Muslim centres of power over the last 500 years. Although Rajasthan is mostly Hindu, a unique mixture of Muslim and Hindu cultures is still evident in many aspects of life and material culture.

Cultural Context

worn by men