Acholi Sandal, Africa, c.1900 Like pieces of abstract sculpture, footwear from certain parts of Africa can be quite dramatic  in design. Traditional footwear from the Acholi  region of Northern Uganda is formed using an oval shaped piece of wet rawhide which is incised and pigmented red and black. Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto (BSM P92.96) Image credit: (c) Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto. Photo: Matthew Plexman
	Ivory paduka, India, Travancore-Cochin,  1775-1825 These rare paduka, or toe-knob sandals,  embellished with inlaid ivory, were once  worn by a member of the highest class. The dense, meandering floral motif and the careful piecing of the ivory veneer are characteristic of 18th century Travancore  workmanship. Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto (BSM P03.15) Image credit: (c) Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto. Photo: Matthew Plexman
	Hintha bird footwear, Burma (now Myanmar), 19th century Golden footwear in the shape of the sacred hintha bird was part of the five royal garments worn by the Buddhist kings in what is now Myanmar. These royal shoes  are believed to date to the last Burmese  dynasty, the Konbang dynasty, which lasted  from 1755-1885. Hintha, or hamsa, birds are  important Buddhist symbols signifying purity, harmony and good character. This pair of shoes features traditional shwe-chi-doe embroidery which incorporates sequins, beads and cut glass into its lavish designs. Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto (BSM P85.22) Image credit: (c) Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto.  Photo: Matthew Plexman
	Mojari of the Nizam of Hyderabad, India, Hyderabad , Andhra Pradesh, early 1800s This pair of mojari is said to have been worn by  the Nizam of Hyderabad, Shikander Jah, in the  early 19th century. They are embellished with gold metal thread called zardosi and salma  sitara embroidery (gold metal embroidery  incorporating a sequin, called a sitara or star). The throats are embellished with  rubies, diamonds and emeralds set in  enamelled gold. Hyderabad broke away from the Mughal Empire in 1724 and in the  19th century was an independent, Islamic  kingdom ruled by the Nizam. Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum,  Toronto (BSM P99.3) Image credit: (c) Bata Shoe Museum,  Toronto. Photo: Matthew Plexman
	Grass sock, Aleut, 1910 Among the many objects woven by Aleut  women were grass socks worn by men rare. Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto (BSM P79.599) Image credit: (c) Bata Shoe Museum,  Toronto. Photo: Matthew Plexman
	Bear fur shoes, Japan, mid-19th century These bear fur shoes would have been part of the armour of a member of the  ruling samurai class in Edo Japan. The samurai, or warrior, class rose to power in the 12th century, and after centuries of civil war the Tokugawa shogunate established  a 250-year-long period of peace known as the  Edo period (1603-1867). The samurai wearing these shoes would have adhered to Bushido, or the Way of the Warrior, which demanded   unwavering loyalty, self-sacrifice, martial spirit and honour. The use of bear fur in these shoes symbolized the strength of  the warrior . Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto (BSM P84.74) Image credit: (c) Bata Shoe Museum,  Toronto. Photo: Matthew Plexman
	Red velvet shoe, Pietro Yantorny, 1920s At the dawn of the 20th century, master shoemaker Pietro Yantorny  was crafting exceptional, exclusive shoes which took years to create and  hundreds of dollars to own. In fact, his  shop sign proclaimed him as the most expensive shoemaker in the world. Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto (BSM P06.4) Image credit: (c) Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto. Photo: Matthew Plexman
	High-heeled shoes, Italian, 1700-1720 These extremely well-preserved high- heeled shoes date to the early 1700s. The heels are made of bevel-carved wood  covered in deep red Moroccan leather while the uppers feature brightly coloured  embroidery on luxurious silk. Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto (BSM P90.186) Image credit: (c) Bata Shoe Museum,  Toronto. Photo: Matthew Plexman
	Moccasin, Iowa, 1850-1900 The Iowa lived in the area of the U.S. state which today bears their name.  Like many eastern Prairie tribes, the Iowa favoured the moccasin. This pair  shows the beauty of later Iowa   beadwork; the green beaded circles  symbolize eyes. Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum,  Toronto (BSM P82.133) Image credit: (c) Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto. Photo: Matthew Plexman
	Chopine, Italy, 1580-1620 Today, only a small number of museums  have examples of chopines. The debut  of chopines occured during the Renaissance  but they were still the footwear of choice  for many wealthy women at the beginning  of the 17th century. Highly impractical, the  chopine's primary purpose was to make the  wearer stand out and therefore it was perfectly suited for extravagant and   expensive embellishment. This treasured pair features silk velvet covered wooden platforms ornamented with silver lace, silver  tacks and an upper of ruched silk edged with silver lace and finished with a silk tassel. Chopines are rarely visible in paintings of the period since women wore long dresses that covered their footwear