Around the body of this chalice, iris and tall grass are cast in high relief against a subtly dappled background. A pair of fishes swims among this watery terrain. The inscription on the foot reads: Presented to Tan Swat Neo by his Excellency the Governor & the Singapore Members of the Legislative Council on the occasion of her marriage 3rd November 1905. Tan Swat Neo (1884-1909) was the daughter of Tan Jiak Kim (1859-1917), a prominent Peranakan businessman who served on the Straits Legislative Council from 1889 to 1915. The chalice was a gift from James Anderson, Governor of Singapore, to commemorate the occasion of Tan Swat Neo’s marriage to Ong Hood Hin (1882-1957), grandson of Ong Ewe Hai (1830-1889). The donor is the granddaughter of Tan Swat Neo.
