Peranakan Chinese of Malacca and Singapore refers to this long wooden bench as 'pak ee'. Lacquered and outlined in gold paint, the bench, incised with motifs is considered unusually plain by Peranakan Chinese standards, which is usually more ornate. Made in a style common to Malacca and Singapore, it has a back and a storage cabinet constructed below the seat. Different types of wood including teak, 'chengal' (a type of hardwood found in Peninsular Malaysia), namwood and blackwood were commissioned to make this type of benches. The wood was typically taken from the owners' estates. Benches like these were usually made in pairs to be placed facing each other on opposite sides of a room or hall. They were also sometimes used in kitchens as a multi-purpose work and storage bench.
