enticz: November 2018

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Straits Chinese Embroidered Slipper Faces

This pair of embroidered slipper faces, made to be used as the toe covers for a pair of slippers, with their relatively large size, was made to be worn by a Straits Chinese man (Baba), most probably to a traditional Straits Chinese wedding. They are embroidered in high relief entirely with silver metallic thread and metal sequins. The patterns are the reverse of each other, facing opposite directions.

This work was known as "sulam benang", which the silver metallic thread is sewn to a layer of purple velvet, which has been attached to a layer of paper, then finally to more fabric.

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

Picture 5

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Straits Chinese Key Holders

Pictures below are the Straits Chinese or Peranakan key holders. They were made by Straits Chinese 'Baba' silversmiths or goldsmiths, and were intended for the use of both men and women (Babas and Nyonyas). Keys were clipped to the ring at the end of the holder and the long hook at the back would be slipped into the owner's belt, where it would be secured until the keys were needed. These key holders fell out of fashion by the 1920s and 1930s, by which time most Straits Chinese (men, anyway) were wearing more European-style clothes, but back when more traditional garb was common, holders like these were as common as the key rings we use today.

These days, Peranakan key holders like these are getting increasingly rare, mostly because people don't know what they are or how they work.

Do browse my previous post about the "Peranakan Key Holders".

Key Holder 1