This piece of embroidered silk handkerchief uses the satin stitch on a turquoise background. The satin stitch is a technique using a series of flat, parallel stitches to cover the background fabric. Blanket stitches using red thread are visible along the edges of the piece. Hemstitching, a form of drawn thread work, is used here to decorate the trimmings of the handkerchief. The design is plain except for the floral motifs on the bottom right hand corner of the piece, which includes a mixture of peony blossoms and buds. Peonies are considered auspicious in the Chinese culture as they symbolise wealth and prosperity. Such pieces of embroidery were usually hand sewn by the Peranakan women themselves. The ability to create fine pieces of beadwork and embroidery was an expected skill of a Peranakan wife.
