Collection
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Arts of Africa

Pair of Sandals

Swahili

1 of 2

Object Label

These sandals, carved entirely out of wood, have a remarkable incised geometric pattern covering their surfaces—an example of Swahili artists’ adaptation of Islamic design motifs circulating in East Africa along the Indian Ocean coast. A label on the underside of one sandal suggests that this pair may have once belonged to Fumo Omari, a sultan of the coastal state of Witu between 1890 and 1894.

Caption

Swahili. Pair of Sandals, late 19th century. Wood, A: 4 × 3 1/2 × 9 11/16 in. (10.2 × 8.9 × 24.6 cm) B: 3 3/4 × 3 1/2 × 9 11/16 in. (9.5 × 8.9 × 24.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X1054a-b.

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Arts of Africa

Culture

Swahili

Title

Pair of Sandals

Date

late 19th century

Geography

Place made: Witu, Kenya

Medium

Wood

Classification

Accessories

Dimensions

A: 4 × 3 1/2 × 9 11/16 in. (10.2 × 8.9 × 24.6 cm) B: 3 3/4 × 3 1/2 × 9 11/16 in. (9.5 × 8.9 × 24.6 cm)

Inscriptions

On the underside of the left sandal, in black ink: "Sandals formerly the property of FUM OMARI the rebel Chief of WITU". A small octagonal paper label is adhered to the heel block with the words "African" written in pencil and "Swahili" written in blue ink.

Credit Line

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Accession Number

X1054a-b

Frequent Art Questions

  • A sandal? Looks uncomfortable!

    My favorite part of that object is that the inscription survives as does all the dust in the cracks of the intricate carving!
    It's beautiful!
    I agree; they are one of the only objects we have in the collection from Witu in East Africa. "Fum Omari" (the name on the base) refers to Fumo Omari, a sultan of the state of Witu between 1890 and 1894.

Have information?

Have information about an artwork? Contact us at

bkmcollections@brooklynmuseum.org.

Artists and makers

Swahili

22 works in the collection