Title
Altar tablecloth
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
China
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Gross measurement: 106.5 x 109 cm
Accession No.
2006-01672
Collection of
Credit Line
Donated by the family of the late Gan Hock Hye, grandson of Gan Eng Seng
Altar cloth, known as tok wi in Baba Malay, was attached to the front of altar tables. The embroidered design features auspicious motifs such as a qilin, a mythical hoofed Chinese chimerical creature that symbolises virility; the eight Daoist immortals and the God of longevity, Shou Lao. The gay colours suggest that this altar cloth was used during special occasions such as feast days. Wealthy Peranakan families purchase altar cloths of different background colours for specific use during funerals and weddings.
