Sandals

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265"688. Wooden sandals - "Tjiripu"These wooden sandals, actually more like high-heeled shoes, are like our wooden shoes and are often found on Java; made for themselves by the natives. The board is as large as the sole of the foot and shaped the same way and has 5 cm high blocks on the bottom. On the front part is a wooden peg with a button which is set into the board and which is pushed between the big toe and the second toe. When walking the big toe holds the shoe tight. The natives can use their big toes, which stand wide away, like a thumb and they can grab and hold objects with them. These wooden shoes are only used in the house and usually worn for bathing so as not to allow the feet to get dirty right after the bath."Translation of: Czurda, F. A. J. (1883). Catalog mit Erklärungen der Etnografischen Privatsammlung des Dr. F. A. J. Czurda in Postelberg (Böhmen). (p. 162-163). Wien, Wilhelm Braumüller