Title
Unsewn slipper faces
Year/Period
early 20th century
Region
Singapore
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 26.6 x 20.5 cm
Accession No.
2018-01331
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 pair of unsewn beaded slipper faces contains a motif of a blue morning glory flower on an orange background. The glass beads, known by Peranakans as ‘Manek Kacha’, were sewn on using bead embroidery. The shape of the slipper faces indicates that the final piece was meant to be an open-toed slipper. The slipper faces would have been sent to Chinese shoemakers to be cut out from the frame and made into the final product. 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.
