Monday, April 19, 2010

The Little Glass Slipper| Origin of Cinderella's Slippers

 Disney's Cinderella| glass slipper

The glass slippers are unique to Perrault. Some have hypothesized the verre (glass) of the title was a mistake for vair (fur). The Encylopaedia Brittanica printed this and many have quoted it since. However, most scholars believe that glass was really intended. It is important that the slippers be rigid and unstretchable, and fur could stretch to fit other feet. Glass would also allow the fit of the shoe to be seen. At the time of Perrault, glass was very rare and valuable, worth even more than gold.
This shoe come from 1600s, left 1660 right 1650, if hypothesized about vair and verre is correct, may be Cinderella's slipper would be like this or squirell fur version.

The Grimm version uses gold slippers, equally inflexible but equally unsuitable for dancing or even walking because of their weight.

Ye Xien tales from China told that slipper made of gold thread and solid gold soles. Ye Xien tales come from Tang Dynasty, and based on the fact that foot binding come from Tang dynasty....may be Ye Xien use this shoes...^^



Scottish Cinderella story use rushes slipper, Egyptian Cinderella( Rosy Rhodopis) has gold slippers. In the German version they’re embroidered with silk and gold thread. In India, it's her nose-ring.

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