Peranakan Beaded Embroidery

I framed up this pair of embroideries back to back to form a stunning piece.  I bought this on eBay with local pick up.

These traditional decorative items are used in weddings by local born Chinese in Indonesia, Malaya and Singapore in the olden days. These decorations are tied around oil lamps. One part of the items is hand embroidered, while the rest is made up of sewn-together glass beads. Such excellent workmanship can hardly be found nowadays.  

Being a Peranakan (Malay term  which means “locally born”) I’m blessed to have an extremely rich heritage which draws from both Chinese traders from the 14th century to the 19th century who married the local womenfolk in Malaysia. Peranakans are famous for their elaborate decorations on furnishing and clothing.

Most Peranakan Chinese were originally living in Malacca and around the coastal areas of Java and Sumatra. However as the South East Asia developed many migrated to Penang and Singapore seeking greener pastures.