This gilded namwood bench decorated with mother-of-pearl chips would have been given to the bride by her family upon marriage. Furniture such as this was specially commissioned for use in wealthy Peranakan homes. The use of gilded namwood furniture was especially popular with Hokkien Baba families of Malacca, Singapore, Riau and Palembang during the 19th century. This set of drawers came from a prominent Peranakan family - the Lee family home, at Magenta Cottage in Killiney Road. It was used in the wedding chamber for the storage of clothes. Glided namwood chests of drawers are rare items that are seldom seen in Peranakan homes.
