‘Kwa’ (top half)

Title
‘Kwa’ (top half)
Year/Period
1954
Region
Hong Kong
Material
Dimension
Gross measurement: 69.4 x 130.7 cm,
Gross measurement: 2005-01246-001 to -002: 159.5 x 130.7 cm
Accession No.
2005-01246-001
Credit Line
Gift of Mdm Chia Wai Ching

‘Kwa’ or ‘kua’ is a traditional Chinese wedding gown. Heavily embroidered, this ‘kwa’ top has a Mandarin collar, frog fasteners as well as a dragon and phoenix design which symbolises success, prosperity and a happy marriage. The donor (Mdm. Chia Wai Ching) flew to Hong Kong in 1953 to get the ‘kwa’ specially made by a tailor and paid HK$800 for it. Tailors in Singapore, at that point in time, were not skilled enough to produce such intricately designed ‘kwas’.