The altar cloth is embroidered with gold and silk thread, possibly made in the Straits Settlements. The upper panel is decorated by embroidered ritual vessels and such as censors and incense burners, as well as a lion and crane. The lower panel is very crowded and decorated by phoenixes, quails, a cock and hen, magpies and peacocks. Large peonies also intersperse the animals. Altar cloths are Chinese textiles hung on the household altar during special occasions such as Chinese New Year. Known as tok wi in Hokkien meaning table cover, the term entered Baba Malay, the Malay dialect spoken by Peranakans.
