Chinese Toggle Depicting Shoes

Gray-brown slippers with wavy incised lines along the sides and a lumpy toe.

This toggle depicting shoes is from China, and dates to the 19th century. It is wood. Because traditional robes had no pockets, small items were hung from the belt, and the toggle kept the cord from slipping through the sash. Two shoe shapes joined side by side with shallow rectangular hollows on top. Wave-like grooves run along the flank, and the toes end in a rounded bump. The surface is a dull, grayish brown with faint abrasion. It is 1 inches wide, 1.5 deep and 0.75 high.

The pattern is faint, but the intent is very clear.