Evening slippers

Hing Sheng Boot and Shoe Maker

1855–65 · silk · Costume Institute

This pair of pink satin evening slippers would be unremarkable were it not for the original label by its Chinese maker. While it is possible that Hing Sheng was an immigrant, the paper and printing of the label suggests instead that he was working in China, most likely Hong Kong, Canton, or other trade center which had a sizeable Western population. The style and construction of the shoes is completely in line with Western shoes dating from around 1860, and it is clear that the maker was trained in those techniques and was producing wares for sale to a Western clientele, as there was no significant adoption of Western dress in China at this early a date.

Artist

Hing Sheng Boot and Shoe Maker

Date

1855–65

Medium

silk

Culture

probably American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Alvah E. Reed, 1966