This garment is part of a two-piece skirt that is worn by Peranakan brides. The skirt is embroidered with floral and bird motifs. Such auspicious motifs are recurrent motifs found on Peranakan wedding garments. Bridal wedding garments of a style like this were predominantly used by the Peranakans of Malacca and Singapore from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. In Penang however, the wedding garments differ slightly in colour and choice of motifs. There is a larger range of motifs employed, such as the peacock, rabbit, pheasant, ‘qilin’ (a mythical Chinese hoofed creature), chrysanthemum and lotus. Some Peranakan wedding garments from Penang are trimmed with rabbit fur, indicating that it was meant for a wedding that took place in the ‘winter’ months at the end of the lunar year.
