Chinese Toggle Depicting Shoes with Carp Motif

A pair of tiny joined slippers, carved busy from toe to heel.

This wood toggle depicting shoes with a carp motif is from China, and dates to the 19th century. Toggles were worn at the sash to anchor a cord, and carvers made them in many forms, including everyday objects such as footwear. Two shallow open pockets sit side by side in a low block shaped like shoes, with a rounded raised toe end. The sides are crowded with relief carving of small figures and scrolling forms in dark glossy reddish-brown. It is 0.75 inches wide, 2 deep and 0.75 high.

Made for feet that never learned to walk.