Box of metallic threads

Collections
1566825
Title
Box of metallic threads
Year/Period
20th century
Region
Singapore
Object Type
threads, boxes (containers)
Material
cardboard, metal, beads (pierced objects)
Technique
metalworking, forming (physical activity)
Dimension
Object size: 1.5 x 6.0 cm,
Object size: 1.5 x 5.2 x 5.2 cm
Accession No.
2025-01230
Collection of
Peranakan Museum
Credit Line
Gift of the late Mr Yeo Cheng Kim and Madam Koh Quee Neo

This box contains gold purl. Purl threads are fine, coiling metal wires without a thread in the middle. They were known as gim kasar and giem kembang, where ‘gim’ meant gold. Different types of purl thread were often used together in Nyonya embroidery to achieve a range of effects. Examples in this group demonstrate the variety of colours and thread types available to embroiderers in Singapore.