One of our members, Steve, wants to know where one can buy authentic Peranakan tiles. In Penang, one can find these tiles collected by certain traders. These old tiles are often harvested from dilapidated buildings. If anyone knows, please inform Steve.

Here is his message:

I’m a matsalleh who enjoys Peranakan floor tiles.  Most Malaysians use Western themes for their homes.  I want an Asian theme.  I’m looking for Peranakan floor tiles.  I’m OK with ‘fake’ vs the original.  I went to one vendor in KL who advertised they manufacture Nyonya tiles, but when I arrived they said they discontinued the line due to lack of interest. Can you direct me to any manufacturers or dealers in these tiles?  I thought you guys would now.  I can’t find anything on the Internet. thx. Steve

You can write to Steve at matsaleh@tm.net.my

Good luck Steve and I will try to ask around for you.

Posted by Neil Khor

Baba Ong responded: Chulia Street Penang- Pentique or any of the antique shops in Penang will have authentic peranakan tiles. they are abotu 60-80 ringgit a piece depending on design and condition still a lot around. rope walk shop, Penang Road, Chulia Street shops. If you need original perannakan floor tiles they are more difficult. Vietnam makes good reproductions and you can source from mms tiles, Bawasah road , Penang.
Hope that is useful.

I also received an sms from Grace Choong: “There is a Kraftangan Centre in Kuala Kangsar that make replica tiles.”

Thanks Guys…hope this helps Steve in his search for Peranakan Tiles…and their copies!

Last 17th September 2008, we kicked off our inaugual activity with a Penang Peranakan buffet dinner

held in Peony Garden Restaurant, Kota Damansara. The dinner was resounding success with more than

50 supporters attending. Post dinner activities covered a historical account of the formation of the 

ssociation, information on the Constitution of the Association and finally and update on the coming

21st Baba Nyonya Convention in Melaka.  On behalf of the Organising Committee, we look forward to

your continous support in the future.

Membership Registration

For those who have not registered themselves as members, we encourage your to do so by filling 

up your particulars in the attached form and digitally paste your photo on the space provided.

Then print the completed form and append your cheque payable to PERSATUAN PERANAKAN 

BABA NYONYA KUALA LUMPUR & SELANGOR (2008).  

Please sent your form and payment to:

Hon. Secretary,

Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Kuala Lumpur & Selangor (2008)
Suite 1-16, 1st floor, Straits Trading Building,
2 Lebuh Pasar Besar,
50050 Kuala Lumpur.

or you can hand them over to any of the committee members personally.  

We will forward the official receipt and a set of the Constitution to you when the application

has been approved.

Fees as follow:

Entrance fee - RM50/person for Ordinary or Associate Member; RM10/person for

Youth Associate Member annual Subscription for Ordinary/Associate Member - RM30/year; 

Youth Associate - RM12/year

(Youth Associate is for members from 12 - 18 years old).

Please recruit your Peranakan relatives and friends and encourage them to sign up as well.

[Write-up Courtesy of Baba Cedric Tan, Hon. Secretary, PBKLS]

by Jackie Yoong

To a considerable extent, 2008 can be termed a Peranakan heritage and culture year in Singapore. The hype and excitement generated by the Peranakan Museum in April will soon be followed up by the Baba House opening in September. Situated at 157 Neil Road, the Baba House is a $4 million gift from Agnes Tan, daughter of eminent Straits Chinese community leader Tun Tan Cheng Lock, to the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The house is more than 150 years old and belonged to a Peranakan family for six generations. Patriach Wee Bin (1823-1868) was a shipping tycoon from China’s Fujian province, and the Wee family’s history is connected to Peranakan community’s pioneering efforts.

The restoration project is managed by the NUS Museum and the Honorary Curator, Mr Peter Lee, plans to represent the House at the peak of its former glory circa 1928. Already, sneak previews last month revealed that the initial lustre of the many wooden panels, plaster reliefs and golden corbels are showing after months of thorough polishing.

It appears that extensive research and meticulous attention are being devoted to the conservation process of the Baba House, one of the few surviving examples of Peranakan terraced houses still intact.

Research expertise is provided by the Department of Architecture, School of Design and Environment, the Southeast Asian Studies Programme, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

The archaeological team has produced a comprehensive Conservation Report after seven weeks of excavations, the first out of 6500 conservation sites in Singapore. Authenticity is emphasized, down to the exact shade of wall paint and window stain glass.

The Museum stresses that the Baba House will not simply be a site about the past, but also a space for understanding and preserving Peranakan culture and identity in the present.

The third floor will feature temporary exhibitions such as contemporary Peranakan art; and there will be workshops teaching Peranakan art and craft and cuisine within the building.

The Baba House gets the essential stamp of support by the community, as indicated by the Singapore Peranakan Association setting up its first office in the new annexe. Additionally, the Baba House will be a source for teaching and continuing academic research on the Peranakans.

Thus, it seems that the Baba House can appeal to a wide array of people, including Peranakans, and students and members of the public interested in Peranakan culture or conservation projects.

Aspiring to be a “living heritage home” and adopting a different curatorial approach, the Baba House promises another approach towards presenting and preserving the community’s culture, as compared to the Peranakan Museum.

As such, the Baba House looks poised to expand and enhance the dialogue with the public over all things Peranakan.

Baba House is located at 157 Neil Road

Open to the public: From Sept 15