These pieces of wool embroidery are known as 'kepala bantal', a Baba Malay term, which literally means 'pillow head', referring to the decorative ends of pillows and bolsters. Pillow and bolster ends were once used as decorative pieces on the Peranakan wedding bed, a custom the Babas adopted from the locals of the region. Many of the pillow ends were purchased from Chinese peddlars or sewn by Peranakan women themselves. Pillow ends are usually rectangular while bolster ends are either octagonal or circular.
