Boat Slippers

As mentioned before, our slippers do not quite fit in with other typical Qing dynasty footwear. Although they contain plenty of Chinese cultural elements and references, their peculiar toe-box shape and open back correspond to a completely different type of shoe.

The kasut tongkang, or bumboat slipper, is named after its resemblance to the small bumboats that used to travel the rivers in Singapore. These beautifully decorated shoes are an important part of the Peranakan culture, and are probably the earliest style of female footwear within their material culture Lillian Tong. Strait Chinese Embroidery and Beadwork: the Private Collection of Baba Peter (Penang: Pinang Peranakan Mansion, 2015), 132.. At first glance the designs on these slippers seem very different from ours, although the shape seems to match perfectly. However, upon closer inspection, we can find some very interesting comparisons. The first pair of slippers (see fig. 1) have been decorated with intricate flower patterns and have been fitted with a striking red inner sole. The wedding shoes (see fig. 2) are decorated with gold thread and sequins, much like the ones used on the slippers in the Rijksmuseum. And the final slippers (see fig. 3) have an ornamental border embellished with a familiar fretwork pattern.

The term Peranakan is generally used to refer to the descendants of Chinese immigrants who settled in Peninsular Malay. Their distinct visual identity is a mix of Malay, Chinese and Western culture. This would explain the Chinese inspiration present in the design of our slippers. These slippers might be a charming example of shared material culture and the impact of cross-cultural interaction. But as the Chinese and Peranakan style inspired many, we can not be sure that our shoes are of Strait Chinese make.