E1340A: Japanese Black Lacquered Geta

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E1340A

Classification Category:

3:Personal Artifacts ➞ Clothing ➞ Footwear

Marks/Labels:

1) Boston Children's Museum archival label: AB 768

2) Luther College archival label: E1340A

Materials:

botanical ➔ wood
botanical ➔ straw
fabric ➔ cloth
fabric ➔ cordage ➔ twine
colorant ➔ paint ➔ lacquer

Dimensions:

19.5 cm L
7.5 cm W
6.5 cm H

Provenance of Object:

The object was acquired in Japan, then donated to the Boston Children's Museum in 1938 by Miss May Mellins. The Boston Children's Museum gifted the object to the Luther College Ethnographic Collection in 2016.

Production Date:

Prior to 1938

Use/Function:

Geta are a form of traditional Japanese footwear that resembles both clogs and flip-flops. They are a kind of sandal with an elevated wooden base held onto the foot with a fabric strap to keep the foot well above the ground. They are worn with traditional Japanese clothing such as kimono or yukata, and also Western clothing during the summer. Sometimes geta are worn in rain or snow to keep the feet dry, due to their extra height compared to other shoes such as zori.

Source Locality:

Japan

Acquisition Date:

1938

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