Shoes for Bound Feet

The tradition of breaking and binding the feet of women into a shape of a pointed lotus bud existed in China for over a thousand years.The question of how and why this tradition continued for so long could have a few answers and all have to do with what men wanted – erotic pleasure? the need to control?Safe to say that all but vanished, the only things that remained of this horrible custom are those beautiful little shoes, not really looking like shoes but more like tiny pedestals. Mostly embroidered and if worn, in bad condition, this unusual pair is made of three different silks, all woven designs. sewn onto a blue cotton foundation with white and blue cotton soles.