Title
Beaded fan case
Year/Period
Early 20th century
Region
Straits Settlements
Material
Dimension
Object size: 31.8 x 8.5 x 1.0 cm
Accession No.
2015-00402
Collection of
Credit Line
gift of Mrs Seah Cheng Siew nee Quah Quee Choo
This is a beaded and embroidered fan case, a highly unusual item. Made of dark blue velvet and decorated with glass beads, this item is unusual as fan cases were rarely used by Peranakan families. This fan case is decorated with a pair of phoenixes and a tiger. In Chinese art, tigers symbolize protection and Peranakans would carry amulets with tiger claws or teeth for that very purpose. Beaded items like this would have been likely commissioned as part of the Peranakan wedding.
