Antique Korean Straw Shoes

Dimensions: 10L x 3W , 1.5H
Condition: Fair
Period: Early 20^th Century, 100+ years old
Materials: Likely rice straw or cattail stems
Place of Origin: Korea

Typically made of rice straw or cattail stems, straw shoes were incredibly common in the Joseon period. When people would go on long walking trips, they would tie about 30 – 40 straw sandals in a bundle and hang them on their luggage as each shoe lasted about a days-worth of walking. These straw shoes were likely worn on sunny summer days when there was no mud. There is no distinction between left and right sandal.

Disclaimer: All information about this piece is unverified. Explanations of the origin, period, materials and use were relayed via antique dealers based in Korea. We cannot verify with 100% certainty the period, materials and actual use. Vintage items, by nature, are likely to carry various marks and indications of their age. Be aware that slight color variations may appear, and some imperfections may vary (we feel signs of use and add character to the item). We clean each item the best we can. However, some products probably need to be cleaned before personal use or display.