Title
Ceremonial Handkerchief
Year/Period
late 19th or early 20th century
Region
Singapore
Object Type
Material
Dimension
Object size: 25.3 x 15.0 x 1.6 cm
Accession No.
2016-00914
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Winson Tan in memory of the late Edward Tan TL
This is a red velvet ceremonial handkerchief (bim poh lenggang in Baba Malay) that would have been worn by a Peranakan bride on her wedding day. At the top of the diamond shaped textile is a loop to allow the bride to wear it on her finger. The handkerchief is decorated with sequins, small gold filigree animals and mythical creatures, and lined with a beaded fringe.The bim poh lenggang was used by the bride during the traditional 12-day wedding ceremony. The motifs that decorated these textiles were often chosen for their association with marital bliss, prosperity and fertility. The bride would walk with the textile in a swaying movement from side to side, an act that was considered a mark of refined behaviour.
