Peranakan furniture in blackwood with mother-of-pearl inlay was associated with the formal reception hall of the Peranakan home, especially in large ancestral houses of old Peranakan families. The two armchairs (see also 2005-01476) and tea table are part of a 'quarter-set' - a full set consisting of eight armchairs and four tea tables. Armchairs with porcelain backs are highly prized for their rarity and fine craftsmanship.
