Title
Irish carpet
Year/Period
Early-mid 20th century
Region
Rangoon, Burma
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Gross measurement: 156.1 x 313 cm
Accession No.
2009-03595
Collection of
This carpet comprises two Burmese scenes with royal elephant cavalry and foot soldiers. Irish carpets were used primarily for auspicious occasions like weddings, birthdays and on feast days like Chinese New Year by the Peranakan Chinese. Known as 'Irish' carpets. These items are not distinctly Peranakan but were imported from England and commonly used by Peranakan families in Singapore, Malacca, Penang and Burma. They were conspicuous items in wedding rituals, for example they were used to cover the table for displaying the gifts exchanged by bride and groom as well as in the chiu thau ceremony. They were also used as tablecloths and as carpets in daily life.
