HvWO 007III

Finely carved Omani wooden shoe

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Finely carved Omani wooden shoe

Very rare finely carved Omani wooden shoe made  of rosewood the, however the toe-pin is missing.  Has nice palm-tree designs. The shape is different as the shoe plateau has a horizontal "bar" with triangle  engraving. While the previous set of shoes has three wooden triangles under the middle pf the plateau to give extra strength. Nowadays they are associated with the Turkish bath, however originally these shoes were also worn in the Harem and even on the street. Length 27 cm. 

Antique Omani wooden shoe

Antique Omani wooden shoe

Arab Name: Qurhaf

Period: 1800-1900

Origin: Oman Zanzibar

During 18th /19th century also similar shoes (but different decoration) were used in Western India (named Paduka)often covered in silver or made of brass/bronze. See Bata shoe museum.

    References:
  1. See the famous photo of Princess Bibi Salme wearing them in Oman Adorned and other books for similar shoes
  2. Craft heritage of Oman Neil Richardson & Maria Dorr Volume two page 463 illustration 167 (but with wooden toe-pins)
  3. Oman Exhibition Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam 2009 catalog p 141.
  4. Volkerenkundig museum Leiden Inventory 5310-8a Some similarities with ours. North Pakistan? length 27 cm