This is possibly an embroidered chair cover used for the traditional Peranakan Chinese wedding. Complete sets of 8 wedding chair covers were required for the set of 8 chairs in the thia besar (main living room). They were also used in pairs for the chairs next to the various altars in the Peranakan home. These chair covers, such as this piece, were usually decorated with auspicious motifs to suit the occasion.The back of the chair cover feature 2 lively phoenixes encircling a peony in full bloom. The leg area features 5 lively qilin (mythical Chinese creature). These motifs are created using gold thread couching. This is a technique where one or more threads are laid on the fabric surface and sewn to the fabric at regular intervals. The phoenix, qilin and peony are all regarded as auspicious motifs by the Peranakans and are commonly found in Peranakan wedding material culture. The phoenix represents beauty, grace and virtue. A pair of phoenixes can symbolise the wedding couple as the dragon is seldom seen as a motif in Peranakan works.
