The Straits Chinese Jewellery used to be the former home of a prominent Peranakan Chinese. Recently, it has been transformed into a museum that carries on the legacy of the unique and rich Peranakan culture. A visit to the Straits Chinese Jewellery Museum provides better understanding to the culture of Peranakan Chinese or better known as Baba & Nyonya.
Straits Chinese Jewellery Museum is the typical Peranakan mansion along Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Melaka; only that the Straits Chinese Jewellery Museum is turquoise in colour. Entering the mansion was as if the bustling Melaka Heritage Streets area was transformed into the golden era where Straits Chinese were regarded as elitist group. We were welcomed by antique finesse furniture of Straits Chinese from the mother-of-pearl blackwood furniture to the wooden doors with cursive floral carvings to one-of-its-kind porcelain. It is said that the Straits Chinese furniture is essential for the functional beauty and ambience of the home and serves as display of status for homeowner.
Baba-Nyonya Antique Furniture
Delicate Straits Chinese frames and man-size mirrors were hung on the walls. Minton tiles were used for flooring to form beautiful tessellated design. Even the receptionist desk was made of fine mother-of-pearl blackwood. The intricately carved and gilded lattice screens divide the sections of the mansion. From the ancestor hall, we passed the altar table area and ended at the central courtyard where there was a well in the middle of the house. A well is a common feature for a Straits Chinese’s house.
Ancestor Hall & Altar Table
Ancestor worship is one salient characteristic of Straits Chinese. There was an elaborated wooden altar on top of which servings were made. Old photos of the ancestors were seen hanging on the wall facing the mother-of-pearl blackwood furniture. Black and red vertical boards with carved chinese characters sandwiched the altar. There were few high-back chairs carved from teak and mahogany in the room.
Baba-Nyonya Jewellery Display
Coming to the very subject of the Straits Chinese Jewellery Museum, we were brought to the second floor of the mansion. We were briefed about the jewellery collection by our guide, Jason.
Peranakan jewellery is influenced by Malay, Chinese, and Indo-European designs. It may even incorporate all three in one single piece. These treasured pieces are handmade by highly skilled craftsmen from China, India and Ceylon. They are passed through generations as valuable heirlooms.
Some of the jewellery which was highlighted during our guided trip were keronsang, Straits Chinese Belt, Baba Jewellery, Nyonya Jewellery, beaded necklace, embroided boat-shaped slippers or kasut tongkang, multi-chained necklace and many others. The most treasured collection is the golden fish jewellery set.
Surprisingly, nyonya also chews betel leaves like Malay grandmothers.
Sia or sia nah is exquisite famille rose prized porcelains which is peranakan’s signature porcelain. They come in red or black lacquered and gilded with gold. The red one is meant for storage of food while the black one is meant for jewellery storage.
The culture and heritage of Straits Chinese must be preserved and kept as it is part of our region’s past. The diminishing culture of Straits Chinese has been studied by many academia. I would encourage those who are interested to know this unique elitist group who speak Baba Malay to visit the Straits Chinese Jewellery Museum.