Title
Altar Cloth
Year/Period
early 20th century
Region
China, Singapore
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 98.3 x 111.5 cm
Accession No.
2018-01299
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Cynthia, Larry, Celia, Carol and Lawrence Chia, in memory of their parents Chia Teck Loke and Ong Siew Choo.
This altar cloth consists of a main red panel dominated by a large central qilin and surrounded by 4 smaller ones. The green upper panel features the eight Daoist Immortals. Altar cloths, or tok wi, are cloths draped vertically over the front of altar tables, which were laden with food dishes and other offerings. This would be done on special occasions, such as weddings and funerals. This object belonged to Wee Bee Neo, a prominent Sang Khek Umm or mistress of wedding ceremonies. As a wedding specialist, she was in charge of the bride’s hair and jewellery, and guiding the young lady through the proper rituals.
