Penang Nyonya beaded shoes

Thursday, May 17 2012

EVOLVING from a mix of cultures and synergistically adopting the mixture of traits have allowed the Nyonya to be authorities on intricately designed clothings, beddings and footwear. Read here and here for a little insight into the history of the Baba-Nyonya community.

One of the most famous accessories that the marriage of cultures has produced is the beaded shoe or more commonly known as kasut manek. View slideshow below.

“From the late 19th century until WWII young Nyonya of marriageable age were taught to sew and embroider articles for their personal use as well as for their wedding ceremony. These included pillow covers, bed hangings and decorative panels used in the bridal chamber. Of special significance was the embroidering and beading of the wedding slippers. The prospective bride prepared a range of slippers to be presented as part of her wedding dowry, to the groom and his family. To show off the bride's work a special showcase of embroidered footwear was displayed in the bridal chamber. A pair of beaded slippers sewn by the bride herself would be worn for the first time on the third day of the wedding, and thereafter worn on less ceremonial occasions and eventually becoming casual footwear”. (Powerhouse Museum Collection, Sydney)

The beaded slippers were either opened face (peep-toe) or covered face. The popular motifs used for the patterns were flowers, birds, butterflies, and fruits. These motifs, likely to appeal to the feminity of the Nyonya, had both European and Chinese influences. Read here for more information on how the beaded works were accomplished and here (nyonyabeadedshoes, You Tube, 31.01.09) to view a video on the art of making Nyonya shoes.

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