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 tea table and two armchairs (see also 2005-01475-76) 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.
