Description:

Ancient Northwest Africa, Morocco, Almohad to Marinid Dynasties, Berber people, ca. 12th to 13th century CE. A rare and delicate pair of sturdy shoes with soles formed from two sewn leather pads. The close-toed design is elegantly embroidered with colorful silk across the top to create a four-square motif surrounding a central, crimson-hued tuft. The top is reinforced with a slender drop-form leather decoration, and from the heel projects a tall tongue. The lateral areas of the shoe bodies still display original areas of decorative red dye and suggest that these shoes were embellished with further vibrant pigments at one time. Size of each (both are relatively similar): 9.375" L x 4.25" W (23.8 cm x 10.8 cm).

Provenance: private Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA collection; private purchase in 1992 from dealer of American University of Sharjah professor and collector who acquired them in Cairo, Egypt in 1961.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#150349

  • Condition: Both shoes have minor loosening and separation to some leather bindings, with light losses to areas of leather soles, and fading to original coloration. Nice patina and remaining pigment throughout.

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March 31, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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