Chinese Toggle Depicting Shoes

Red-brown pair with a banded sole and a small peg-like knob between the hollows.

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 small shoe forms joined together, each with a shallow oval opening and a ridged toe. A raised band wraps the base, and a small round bump sits near the back. The surface is a mottled red-brown with dull patches. It is 1 inches wide, 1.5 deep and 0.75 high.

Compact, a bit scuffed, and clearly well handled.