Peranakan Chinese wedding slippers with cushion wrapped in cloth

Peranakan Chinese ‘nyonyas’ had to master. Thus, it is no surprise that most of the embroidery and beadwork was done by the ‘nyonyas’ themselves. The decorative portion of the slippers would be embroidered (usually with gold and silver threads) by the ‘nyonyas’ and then sent to a shoemaker to be made into slippers. In some cases, the embroidery would be commissioned from skilled ‘nyonyas’ who could embroider more complex and elaborate designs. The finished product was handled with great care. Wrapped in cloth and sprinkled with cloves to help keep out insects and to protect them from dust and other damaging elements, the slippers were also stuffed with small cushions to prop the insides to maintain their shape.

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