Tanzanian Sandals

Wooden sandals were in use in East Africa throughout the 20th century. With the introduction of mass market footwear and the ubiquitous rubber thong, their popularity went into swift decline. This pair dates from before 1950 and, quite possibly, as early as 1910. The toe pegs with their onion-shaped finials are typical for Gogo sandals and show a strong Indo-Arab influence. Across the Indian Ocean, strikingly similar footwear was worn in Orissa. Pyro decoration is common in East and Southern African art. Here, the outer edge of the sandal has been outlined in this way with a circle inscribed in the middle. The design is bold and unusual. This pair would look great hung on a wall. 9″ long, each.

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