Title
Curtain hook
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th centuries
Region
Straits Settlements
Object Type
Dimension
refer to parts
Accession No.
2002-00482
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Edmond Chin
This pair of curtain hooks is decorated with the fertility symbols of flowers in full bloom and scrolling foliage, which surrounds the central letter J. The curtain hooks were made of 18-carat gold, rubies and rose-cut diamonds. Such richly ornamented curtain hooks were used in wealthy Chinese Peranakan families to adorn the wedding bed. Wedding beds were among the largest pieces of furniture in wealthy Peranakan families and were richly decorated with fertility symbols, reflecting the wish for many heirs to the family name.
