Nyonya Beaded Purses

Beaded purses and shoes are the only forms of old Nyonya bead work to have survived the passage of time. The Nyonyas of old were taught to sew, bead and embroider all of their accessories that were needed in the household all by themselves. They had to make bed tapestries, bridal hangings, panels, knee pads, shoes, kebaya laces, articles of decoration such as beaded vases, beaded purses, bags, letter holders, decorative motifs, pillow ends, containers, sireh covers, food covers, cloth hangings, religious cloth decorations, handkerchiefs and a whole list of other needed household items of art. It was part and parcel for Nyonyas in the past to stay at home and be cultivated in cooking, sewing, embroidery and adat or culture.

The pictures below shows you what an old Peranakan wedding purse would look like. Such purses were only used on wedding days and reserved for special occasions after that. Such purses took months to complete and involved much painstaking hard work and artistry.


Purse 1

Purse 1
Size : 12cm x 21cm

Purse 1

Purse 1

Purse 1

Purse 1

Purse 1

Purse 1

Purse 1

Purse 2

Purse 2
Size : 9cm x 16cm

Purse 2

Purse 2

Purse 2

Purse 2

Purse 2

Purse 2