Pair of ladies’ shoes c. 1790 - 1815

These are a pair of ladies’ shoes made by Hon Sing. Foot binding was a practice rooted in early Chinese history, representing a painful negotiation of gender, class, and beauty. From as young as five years old, girls’ feet would be bound to prevent growth, and these tiny so-called ‘lotus feet’ became a status symbol. These shoes are about 25cm long and 6cm wide. For context, the average shoe size for women in the US is about 25cm long. The shoes here, however, would likely not fit most children. In wearing these shoes, women’s mobility was greatly restricted, confining them to domestic spaces and making them dependent on men. The bound feet became eroticized, a symbol of a woman’s virtue and submission. This eroticization also served to reinforce male dominance. These shoes are a physical embodiment of a complex cultural practice. They elicit a mix of emotions, from a sense of horror at the physical suffering they represent, to an understanding of the social pressures that led women to endure this practice.