This finely carved namwood chair has auspicious bat carvings along the seat, and floral and vase motifs along the back rest. This type of chairs were known as ‘Southern Official’ chairs, mother of pearl and canton blackwood forms of furniture found in early Malaccan homes. They were found in Indonesia but were most probably made in China. Popular in earlier Peranakan Chinese homes, these chairs would have been found in the front hall of the household.
