Green kebaya with cat details

Title
Green kebaya with cat details
Year/Period
Early 20th century
Region
Singapore
Material
Dimension
Object size: 121.0 x 67.0 x 0.3 cm
Accession No.
2019-00594
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of the Lim Family in memory of Edna Chong Kim Neo

Embroidered onto this kebaya, a winsome scene shows two cats eyeing a sparrow from the tall grass. It was possible by the 1920s to create elaborate lace-like patterns using sewing machines, which were widely available in the Malay Archipelago since the late 19th century. This was made by Chong Kim Neo (1916-1972), who made beaded slippers and garments from her home as she did not own a shop.