Qabqab (women’s hammam clogs)
Tunisia, early 20th century
Wood and hammered silver
Qabqab are hammam clogs with raised soles, traditionally worn by women in the Ottoman and North African worlds. They were designed to protect the feet from water, dampness and slippery bath floors, but could also become prestigious objects. When decorated with precious materials, such as silver, they reflected the social status of their owner and could form part of a woman’s wedding trousseau.
Made by specialised craftsmen, these clogs combined practical function with aesthetic refinement. In the world of the hammam, a place of care, hygiene and female social interaction, qabqab were part of bodily rituals while also reflecting the social customs and craft traditions of their time. The small size of this pair suggests that it was probably intended for a child.
