This pair of slippers with bead embroidery and couched metallic thread is decorated with a pink peony motif at the centre, bordered by a key fret pattern along the edge. The sole of the slippers are stamped with the mark NIO TJIAN SENG (BATAVIA) PATEKOANI, indicating the name of the shoe maker and the specific city where this shoe maker was based, Batavia.Beaded slippers, known as kasut manek in Baba Malay date back to the early 20th century and were worn by Peranakan men and women. The slipper faces were beaded on a frame or pidangan and then a Chinese shoe maker would attach it to a leather slipper base.
