The
Straits Chinese Jewelry Museum, a new addition to the Pinang Peranakan
Mansion is set to officially open in June during the 2013 George Town
Festival. The museum showcases the epitome of Baba Nyonya jewelry and is
the first of its kind to be opened in Penang. The building housing
these jewels is also furnished with Straits Chinese furniture and
collectibles and adjoins the Pinang Peranakan Mansion through the
Chinese Jade garden.
The
museum displays the rare and priceless collections of magnificent
Peranakan diamonds, intans and jade set in gold and precious metals.
These gems are unique with its exquisite settings and designs – an
amalgamation of Chinese, Malay, Victorian and Indian compositions. Some
of the techniques and craftsmanship employed in these pieces are so
meticulous that they are no longer found or made today. These master
craftsmen included skilled and expert master craftsmen from China and
Ceylon.
These
Baba Nyonya jewellery are collected over a period of 35 years, sourced
from the personal collection of Baba Nyonya families including recovered
jewels from Kapitan China’s collection.
Baba
Nyonya or Peranakan is a community of acculturated Chinese unique to
the Straits Settlements of Penang, Malacca and Singapore. The
Peranakans adopted selected ways of local Malays and have blended
Chinese and Malay customs, language, fashion and cuisine over centuries.
For more information on the museum, contact Pinang Peranakan Mansion at 04-2642929.
2 comments:
A museum doesn’t just visualize the beautiful jewelries that were stored there, it also tells the story of the rich culture of China. I just hope that this museum is part of our itinerary in our upcoming visit to China since I’m really interested in knowing its history.
- Idaline Cirillo -
Placing the most important jewelry in a museum is indeed a great way to expose the rich culture of China. For most of the jewelry lovers out there, they can also get some ideas on what design that they'll use in making their own pieces. They don't have to copy exactly the ones displayed, but they can have an idea on how they can present the culture of China in what they’ll be making.
Compelling-Creations.com
Post a Comment