This large, very rare 'mirror-pair Irish' carpet tablecloth has peacock and floral motifs. Irish carpets were used primarily for auspicious occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and on feast days like the Chinese New Year. They were probably made in the United Kingdom for export. ‘Irish’ carpet is a term used by the antique trade for a type of colourful velveteen textile (not necessarily made in Ireland) that was used by many Peranakan Chinese families as table covers or carpets. Irish carpets were popular on special occasions like weddings for their rich, bright colours and motifs of birds and flowers. This piece probably would have covered a long table, on which wedding gifts were laid out for inspection by the bride’s family.
