Ornamental Leather Applique Shoes | Kazan, Russia

Description

Origin: Russia | Tatarstan | Kazan
Era: Early 20th century (circa 1910-1930)
Condition: fair-good; flaking to leather surface; wear along edges; small tears; minimal wear to soles; light general wear; recommended for display only
Measurements: approximately 9″ from heel to toe (marked size 35 on the bottoms)
Additional Notes: Traditional pair of women’s ornamental leather shoes from Kazan area of Russia. The shoes feature beautiful leather motifs that are joined using Kazan stitch – extensive additional history of the ornaments can be found line. This type of handmade leather work was practiced in Kazan for centuries and remained an important local craft up until around WWI. This pair likely dates to the final era of traditional production around the turn of the last century. Modern efforts to revive the craft have been somewhat successful, however the volume of production cannot match pre-industrial levels and the designs, colors and styles have of course been adapted for contemporary fashion. Original examples are very scarce. The leather and stitching on this pair has suffered some wear mainly to the toes and around the top of the heels. Deaccessioned from a museum collection with the accession numbers written on the heels. A rare museum artifact not suitable for wear given their age and the fragile condition of the leather.