Wardrobe

Title

Wardrobe

Year/Period

late 19th or early 20th century

Region

Straits Settements

Object Type

wardrobes (case furniture), wedding furniture

Material

teak (wood), glass (material)

Technique

woodcarving (process), woodworking, glassworking, forming (physical activity), assembling (additive and joining process)

Dimension

Object size: 243.5 x 138.0 x 66.5 cm

Accession No.

2021-00076

Collection of

Peranakan Museum

Wardrobes like this were among the pieces of furniture gifted to Peranakan brides as part of their trousseau. It was used to store and display new clothes and embroidered slippers, which would be a sign of wealth to wedding visitors. Auspicious symbols abound, including a figure of Guanyin on a qilin at the centre of fretwork panel that crowns the wardrobe, and carvings of phoenixes that adorn the glass door. This is an example of what is called "brown and gold" furniture, characterised by the use of teak and European and Chinese design influences. The style was especially popular among Peranakans.