Kuhlmaulshue (German Cow Mouth Shoe)
For many people, the first type of footwear that springs to mind when thinking about the German Renaissanc e is the cow mouth shoe or kuhlmaulsh ue. Period art often depicts the Renaissanc e German wearing a low profile, slip on shoe. Noted for their broad square toe, these shoes cross gender and class barriers and can been seen on art from a wide region. Soldiers and women represent a large population of the illustrate d owners. Extant shoes exist in many collection s; two predominan t excavation s include Alpirsbach and Kempten, Germany. By comparing these finds with existing art work, it is possible to reconstruc t a replica of this style.