NATIONAL COLLECTION X MUSEUM MARTKET LACQUER ROUND TRAYS (AVAILABLE END MAY 2024)

BEDSPREAD(KAIN SPREI)

Indonesia, early 20th century

cotton (drawn batik)

Collection of Peranakan Museum

2014-00951

The ambi (tear-drop shape) and Tree of Life motifs on this textile reveal connections to Indian cloths traded to Southeast Asia from the 13th century onward.Auspicious Chinese symbols like phoenixes, peonies, and butterflies point to the role they played in Peranakan wedding celebrations.

SARONG

Java, Cirebon, 1900-10

Cotton (drawn batik)

Collection of Peranakan Museum

2015-02114

This colour combination of blue and white batik sarong is known as kelengan. The front panel of the sarong is decorated by triangle patterns known as tumpal with birds like chickens and phoenixes filling the background of the cloth.Along the borders of the tumpal filled section of the sarong are fret patterns, a decorative feature commonly found on Chinese ceramics and furniture.

Batik sarongs were worns by Peranakan Chinese in the Strait Settlements and Indonesia as a skirt to accompany a top known as a kebaya.