This is an embroidered image of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The piece is a Victorian style cross-stitch panel off which Peranakans in the early 20th century would have based their beadwork designs. There are several stylistic similarities between embroidered pieces such as this and the designs that were eventually found on Peranakan beaded slippers worn during the early to mid 20th century. As the Peranakans of the Straits Settlements were closely aligned with the British elite in the early 20th century, such items were examples of the influence of Western images on Peranakan tastes. This particular piece showed the appeal of Victorian English stylistic sensibilities and similar dog designs were found later in Peranakan beadwork pieces.
