Kebaya and sarong

This kebaya features flowers and butterflies appliquéd on fine netting and a trim of broderie anglaise (white needlework with small holes). It is a rare kebaya with the maker's name. "Njonja Tan Kian Ling" was definitely a Chinese woman ('njonja' or nyonya, being a term for Mrs). The hand-drawn sarong was made in the atelier of Nyonya Tan Sin Ing of Sidoarjo, a pioneer female entrepreneur who created batiks in the Indo-European style for a select Peranakan Chinese market in Java. Her highly personal style is the result of a controlled palette, delicate drawing, and dense backgrounds filled with fine details.