Enquiry about object: 6485
Pair of Large, Straits Chinese Couched Butterfly Wedding-Bed Ornaments
Straits Chinese Communities: Penang, Malacca or Singapore circa 1900
width (each): 17cm, length: 11.4cm, combined weight: 52g
Provenance
UK art market
This fine and large pair of butterfly ornaments were intended to decorate a Straits Chinese or peranakan wedding bed as fertility hangings.
Each of the two has a well-stuffed body, and fine, prominent wings covered in green velvet that is couched with thick, gold thread and applied gold metal spangles. Each has long pairs of antennae of fine, twisted silver-coloured wire.
The bodies of each have in gold couching prominent Chinese prosperity emblems.
Each is backed with orange cotton textile.
Pairs of butterflies were considered auspicious emblems. The first part of the Hokkien word for butterfly was a homonym for the Chinese word for good fortune. Plus, a pair was synonymous with the bridal couple.
Related examples are illustrated in Knapp (2012, p. 49), Cheah (2017, p. 145), Ho (1987, p. 30) and Ee (2008, p. 222, p. 249).
The pair here is in excellent condition.
References
Cheah, H.F, Nyonya Needlework: Embroidery and Beadwork in the Peranakan World, Asian Civilisations Museum, 2017.
Ee, R., et al, Peranakan Museum A-Z Guide, Asian Civilisations Museum, 2008.
Ho, W.M., Straits Chinese Beadwork & Embroidery: A Collector’s Guide, Times Books International, 1987.
Knapp, R.G, The Peranakan Chinese Home: Art and Culture in Daily Life, Tuttle, 2012.
