This baju panjang that features metallic thread embroidery is one of the star pieces in the museum’s collection. As baju panjangs usually feature silk embroidery, printed or dyed motifs, a piece adorned with metallic threads is very rare and was probably reserved for special occasions. The baju panjang is a long and loose fitting tunic. This makes it suitable in the hot, humid climate of the Southeast Asian region as it allowed for ventilation, while also projecting a modest appearance. The decorative designs, mostly done in gold thread couching, consists of motifs of floral sprays and birds, some of which are perched on the branches of the flowers. Floral sprays are auspicious symbols in the Peranakan culture that symbolise posterity.
