Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Inca, ca. 1400 to 1532 CE. A rare matching pair of adult-sized leather sandals - little more than protective foot sole coverings with leather cords knotted through several peripheral holes. The leather may have come from a deer or a camelid such as a llama or alpaca. As with any clothing, the material and decoration indicated status - these are probably a social rank above the vegetal fiber footwear worn by the common peasantry when they were not barefoot. Inca sandals sometimes only covered only part of the foot, leaving the toes exposed for gripping! Size: 9.75" L x 4.25" W (24.8 cm x 10.8 cm); 10.5" H (26.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, before 2010; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, collected from 1950-1960s

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#172745

Losses to leather on sole of one and perforation through the toe area of the other. Leather is aged and very stiff with cracking. Earthen and mineral deposits.