{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O456809"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O456809/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV2349/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV2349/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MV2349","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MV2352","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MV2351","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MH8429","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MH8430","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MH8431","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O456809/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O456809","accessionNumber":"AP.61&A-1897","objectType":"Pair of slippers","titles":[{"title":"cao xie","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Grass slippers (<i>cao xie</i>) are among the oldest and simplest forms of outdoor footwear in China, with soles made from woven rice straw and uppers of plaited rush. Peasants wore straw shoes such as these while working in the fields, gathering firewood and herbs, or hunting in the mountains, regardless of the weather. Sandals made from straw were even fitted to the hooves of cattle and pigs to wear while being led along muddy roads. Although the shoes look uncomfortable to wear, their coarse soles grip efficiently to slippery surfaces. \r\nIn China, straw shoes are also associated with mourning. Traditionally, family members of the deceased would wear undyed coarse hemp clothing and headbands, along with straw sandals, at a funeral to express filial piety, putting aside personal appearance and comfort to grieve for the passing of loved ones.\r\nThese close-toe slippers were originally acquired for the V&amp;A’s Bethnal Green branch, which opened in 1872, to illustrate the use of waste products. By displaying useful and commercial goods from across the world made from discarded materials, the museum aimed to promote corporate awareness of environmental sustainability and drive innovative uses from scraps or surplus materials.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Pair of Chinese closed-toe slippers made of woven and plaited grass and straw, with delicately patterned woven straw at the toe upper and coarser woven straw for the inner sole.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"grass","id":"AAT11872"},{"text":"straw","id":"AAT11908"}],"techniques":[{"text":"weaving","id":"AAT53642"},{"text":"plaited","id":"x46516"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Plaited grass; woven straw","categories":[{"text":"Footwear","id":"THES48951"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"}],"styles":[{"text":"Qing","id":"AAT18478"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2021MV2349","2021MV2352","2021MV2351","2019MH8429","2019MH8430","2019MH8431"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES303384"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES303384"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Shoes","id":"AAT46065"}],[{"text":"Shoe","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1850-1897","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1897-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"","value":"","unit":"","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Acquisition method and source not identified in the Asia Department registers, accessioned in 1897. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.\nDescription on label:\n\n'Slipper; Plaited grass and straw; Chinese: 19th century';;","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pair of grass slippers (<i>cao xie</i>), plaited grass and straw, China, 1850-1897","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["AP.61-1897","AP.61A-1897"],"accessionNumberNum":"61","accessionNumberPrefix":"AP","accessionYear":1897,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Shoe [1]","Shoe [2]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-19","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}