Lotus Shoe

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Lotus shoes were worn by Chinese women who had undergone foot binding, a painful practice popularized among upper-class women during the Song and Qing dynasties. These delicate shoes are crafted to resemble a blooming lotus bud, typically made from fine cotton or silk materials. Although foot binding is no longer practiced in China today, it's estimated that nearly 40-50% of Chinese women had bound feet at the beginning of the 19th century. As a result, lotus shoes remain a common sight in museums and private collections worldwide.