This tray was part of a wedding tea set used by the Peranakan Chinese in the 12-day wedding ceremony. A typical tea set consists of two teapots, four teacups and a tea tray. Tea sets were used in certain wedding rites, such as when the bride and groom offered tea to their parents and when the newly wed couple toast themselves. Tea sets made of silver, such as this tea tray, were considered rare and were only owned by wealthy Peranakan families. Tea sets were more commonly made of enamelled metal or porcelain.
