This red sewing box contains 6 smaller boxes of purl thread, sequins, ribbons and beads, and a small coil of wire. Purls, sequins, ribbons and beads were used in Nyonya needlework to achieve effects of colour, light and contrasting textures. Labels on some of the boxes remain intact. The label on the box which contains metal purl shows: ‘Made in France by Roland. Trademark Favier Brothers Lyons…’ , ‘Boite modele depose’, and ‘Pattern 2175 Frisée Brillante-Br.3’.Purl thread was known as gim kasar and giem kembang, where gim means gold. Sequins are flat discs that were secured using beads or metal purl.
