Lifestyle of the Babas and Nyonyas - Penang

One of many period photos of the Baba-Nyonyas

Within the many rooms of the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, visitors were given a glimpse of the opulent lifestyle of the Baba-Nyonyas particularly unique to Penang and Malacca. Artifacts from these Straights Chinese settlers filled every nook and cranny of the museum, to the point of visual overload. No minimalistic neutral decorating here! One cupboard would have ornate Chinese-style jewelry; another was filled with a large collection of British porcelain dinnerware, and yet another displaying colorful hand-blown glass vases. In the bedroom were neatly folded or hung contrasting batik and embroidered clothing worn by the Nonya women. 

Embroidery and textiles decoration on a bridal chamber bed

Such lovely textile work

Bridal chamber bed and other ornate bedroom accessories

One of three bridal chambers from three different eras from the 1900's - 1950's

Decorative fan and jewelry

Enormous painting of Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee's grandmother - one of several commissioned paintings of his family

Detail of a  large ceramic vase

Heavy mother-of-pearl embedded teak furniture on English floor tiles

Ornamental casket perfumer

Wedding basket and porcelain

Detail of a portrait painting

Tweet

Pin It