Zardozi Gold Thread Slippers, India

Pair of Princely Gold Thread Zardozi Slippers

Northern India

early 20th century

length: 28cm, height: 7cm

This pair of slippers most probably was made for a member of an Indian princely family. The upper sections are entirely embroidered with thick gold thread, a technique known as zardozi work.

They are soled and heeled with leather which shows almost no wear – such slippers would not have been worn outside and would only ever have been used to walk over carpet. The interiors are of red leather. All the parts have been carefully sewn together.

The shoes are densely embroidered over a red velvet base with raised floral patterns in thick gold thread and gold spangles – the spangles are particularly fine and small in comparison to the larger examples encountered today. This type of work known in India as zardozi whereby raised gold embroidery was added to velvet, probably was introduced by the Portuguese. Many Indian royal houses commissioned zardozi embroiderers to embellish jackets, shoes, umbrellas and even crowns with this work that were to be worn and used in the court. The zardozi embroiderers typically were Muslim men.

The slippers here are in fine condition with no obvious losses.

References

Allen, C., Maharajas: Resonance from the Past, Mercury Books, 2005.

Arts of India: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Philip Wilson Publishers, 2001.

Provenance

UK art market.

Inventory no.: 2328

SOLD

to see a related pair.

The coat of the ruler on the left incorporates zardozi embroidery, as does the slippers of the gentleman on the right.