Strong and warm shoes were needed for desert life and travel in the winter. This is one of several found by Stein at Mazar-tagh, an eigth to ninth-century Tibetan military site north of Khotan. It is made from felt stitched with a design of overlapping scales. The sole, which turns up at the toe, heel and side, is also made from stitched felt with leather patches at heel and toe. Inside are two fragments of red woollen cloth with plain and diagonal weave.
Woollen felt with leather patches
The British Museum,
MAS.495 (M.Tagh.a.0041)