Bridal chamber and wedding bed were decorated by the womenfolk of the bride’s family. Decorations with auspicious colours and motifs were used to bless the marriage and bridal couple. These included door and bed hangings, bed curtains, tablecloths, carpets, flowers, bolster and pillow covers. The quality and quantity of decorative items used also reflected the wealth and status of the family.The majority of existing Peranakan beadwork and embroideries date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These tended to be the larger pieces of embroidery such as wedding garments, drapes and covers for the wedding bed, and hangings for the bedroom doors such as this piece and altar tables. These embroideries would have been made by professional needle workers in South China, possibly with beaded fringes and tassels added after their arrival in Southeast Asia.
