These two octagonal shaped pieces of beadwork are bolster ends, used by Peranakan Chinese to decorate the wedding bed. These pieces feature colourful floral designs on red velvet. It is believed that the ancestors of the Peranakan Chinese had adopted the use of pillow and bolster ends on the wedding bed from the local population. These were part of the wedding bed ornaments that were sewn by the bride to be inspected by the ladies of her prospective husband’s family. Other than pillow and bolster ends, slippers worn by Peranakan women are also beaded.
