<div class="description">
<p>Imperial Boots
Outer fabric: tapestry (kesi); silk and gold
</p><p>Liao Dynasty (907-1125)
</p><p>The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund  1993.158, .158a
(Cat. no. 23)
</p><p>The kesi outer fabric of the boots is woven with pairs of phoenixes chasing
a flaming pearl among clouds. The sections were carefully cut so that the
flaming pearl occurs at the centers of the shin and calf, and at the top of
the instep. To accommodate the particular cut and smaller area of the
instep, the phoenixes were depicted slightly differently and the design was
reduced in scale.
</p><p>The wide cut of the top of the boots enabled pants to be tucked inside.
Skirts, jackets, robes, gloves, and a hat would have completed the outfit.
</p><p>Liao kesi is distinguished by its exceptional refinement. Considered a
national specialty, it was used extensively for both clothing and
furnishings. Not only were kesi robes worn by the Liao emperor, but they
</p>
were sent to the Song emperor as imperial gifts.</div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://clevelandart.org/art/1993.158.1">https://clevelandart.org/art/1993.158.1</a>