I have had several inquires asking the question Why have you started adding miniature shoes to the collection? I have found that they ‘inform” the straw shoes and sandals in several ways. Miniature M3 is an example. It has essentially the same design as straw shoe C15. A tag on the bottom of each C15 shoe indicates each was made in China but it is not clear whether the design is contemporary or ancient. The same design of the antique miniature makes it likely that the design has been around in China for a long time.
Another reason is that the miniatures are beautifully crafted and often inscribed with images that enrich our appreciation for and understanding of the culture. For example, see the description below of the fish net design on the top front of shoe M3.
See the gallery below for illustration:
