Batik Cap Or Chop

The use of Batik is an integral part of Malay culture. Mostly, the Malay women in olden times wear their kebayas with Batik sarungs. Batik is a wax resist dyeing technique used on textiles. Melted wax is applied before the fabric is dipped in dye water.

Pictures below show the sample of Batik cap or chop from my collection, which is made of moulded copper. It shows the motif of flower and leafs. The chop will be dipped in molten wax, and then chopped or printed onto the fabrics to make the resist, before the fabric is dyed. The cloth it produces is called Batik cap. There's another method of making Batik uses hand-drawn techniques instead of cap. This method produces Batik which is called Batik Lukis (Hand-drawn Batik).

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Milk Bottles

Here are the vintage milk bottles from my collection. The glass milk bottle is originally from Europe and it shows how the Asian did not reject foreign cultural influences. In many cases, they would embrace these foreign influences, and make it their own.

Glass milk bottle 1
Length: 18cm

Glass milk bottle 2
Length: 20cm

Glass milk bottle 3
Length: 19.5cm

Glass milk bottle 4
Length: 20cm

Glass milk bottle 5
Length: 20cm

Glass milk bottle 6
Height: 16.5cm

Glass milk bottle 7
Height: 17.5cm

Glass milk bottle 8
Height: 17.5cm

Glass milk bottle 9
Height: 21cm

Perfumes And Eau De Cologne Bottles

These three old scent bottles were bought from a Nyonya's family. Like women all over the world, Nyonyas also liked to scent themselves with all types of perfumes and eau de cologne. A popular scent used was Florida water, recommended since Victorian times and Ausonia brand from Roger and Gallet, as suitable toilet water for both men and women. These scented waters were useful in the hot tropical climates and most of these brands are still available today and have a retro appeal for some.

Ausonia brand (1905) from Roger And Gallet, Paris.
Height : 11cm
Roger and Gallet are a firm of French perfumers which was founded by merchant Charles Armand Roger and banker Charles Martial Gallet in 1862. They started by buying a Parisian eau de cologne business which had been founded in 1806 by a member of the Farina family and then won a legal dispute over the right to use the family name. They specialised in toilet soap which was produced in a large factory near Paris. Later in the 19th century, they were successful with the newly synthesised fragrance of violet, for which they had the French rights, producing perfumes such as Vera Violetta.

Parfum Robiyia, a local brand perfume from Singapore.
Height : 10.5cm

Nyonya Chinta, Yardley, 8 New Bond Street, London.
Height : 10.5cm
Yardley of London is one of the oldest cosmetics, perfume and toiletry companies in the world. Established in 1770, Yardley was a major producer of soap and perfumery. Due to the growing popularity of Yardley soaps and cosmetics at the turn of the 20th century, the company opened a shop in 1910 on Bond Street in London. The original Yardley shop on Bond Street was at 8 New Bond Street, but it later moved to 33 Old Bond Street.

Late Ming Transitional Period Cup 1610-40

This blue and white cup is from late Ming Transitional period 1610-40.
Diameter: 6cm
Height: 3.5cm

View from the top

View from the base

View from the side

View from the side

Chinese Noble Lady Bead Work Head Gear

These are from Qing Dynasty or Republic era (Pre-1910s or earlier) Chinese bead work head gears / head pieces used by the noble Chinese ladies in olden time in the Chinese tradition. It is exactly like those portrayed in the old classic Chinese paintings in the courtyard, where you can see the ladies are wearing it and carrying a Chinese walking stick. The head gears are made with tiny glass beads and very much intact with colourful flora and fauna patterns.

Head gear 1

Head gear 1

Head gear 1

Head gear 2

Head gear 2

Head gear 2

Head gear 3

Head gear 3

Head gear 3

Head gear 4

Head gear 4

Head gear 4

Head gear 5

Head gear 5

Head gear 5

This picture shows the cloth at the back of the headgear which is very old and worn.

Silver Betel / Tobacco Box

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These two small and unique silver tobacco or betel boxes are believed to be original from Sumatra, Indonesia (19th century). They are delicately chased over the hinged lid and sides with typically Islamic Malay flower and foliage motifs. They are also attached by means of a multi-strand silver chain to a small spherical silver lime box which contains remnants of lime powder and which has a prominent cast silver catch.

Also check out the "Spittoons", the "Betel Nut Paraphernalia", the "Asam Gelugor Fruit-Shaped Brass Container" and the "Indonesian Betel Or Tobacco Box".

Cucuk Sanggul (1)

Cucuk sanggul is one of the important accessories for the hair. Usually, Nyonyas will keep their hair up to waist length. The hair would then be tied up into a bun, secured by hairpins, and some decorated with flowers. Nyonyas from Malacca and Singapore wore their hair buns or sanggul normally with three, five or seven hairpins, each in graduating lengths, called the cucuk sanggul.

Picture 1
Front view of the cucuk sanggul.
Length: 11cm.

Picture 2
-Back-

Picture 3
The details of the workmanship.

Picture 4
The details of the workmanship.

Picture 1
Front view of the cucuk sanggul.
Length: 11cm.

Picture 2
-Back-

Picture 1
Front view of another two types of the cucuk sanggul.
Length: 7cm each.

Picture 2
-Back-

Picture 1
Front view of the enamel cucuk sanggul with only some enamel left.
Length: 8.5cm.

Picture 2
-Back-

Picture 1
Front view of the cucuk sanggul.
Length: 7.5cm.

Picture 2
-Back-

Picture 1
Front view of the cucuk sanggul.
Length: 7cm.

Picture 2
-Back-

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Length: 16cm.

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Length: 13.5cm.

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Other variations of a set of seven Portuguese brass hairpins from Malacca.

Picture 1 - Length of the hairpins from left to right: 13cm, 12.5cm, 11.5cm, 10.5cm, 10cm, 9.5cm and 7.5cm.

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Picture 3 - Clearer view of the crown of the hairpins.

Picture 1
Length: 12.5cm.

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A set of five Nyonya silver hairpins from Penang.

Picture 1 - Length of the hairpins from top to bottom: 14cm, 13cm, 12cm, 10cm and 9cm.

Picture 2

Picture 3 - Very unclear mark at the back of the hairpin.

An incomplete set of four Nyonya silver hairpins (instead of five) from Penang.

Picture 1 - Length of the hairpins from top to bottom: 14cm, 13cm, 11.5cm and 11cm.

Picture 2

Picture 3 - Mark at the back of the hairpin.

Picture 4

Another variation of a set of five Nyonya silver hairpins from Singapore.

Picture 1
Length of each of the hairpins: 9.5cm.

Picture 2
The details of the workmanship.

Picture 1
-Front-
A very unique set of silver gilt cucuk sanggul.
Length of the hairpins from left to right: 9cm, 10.5cm and 9.5cm.

Picture 2
-Back-

Picture 3
The unclear mark at the back of the hairpin 1.

Picture 4
The unclear mark at the back of the hairpin 2.

Picture 5
The unclear mark at the back of the hairpin 3.

Picture 6
The details of the workmanship.

Picture 1
-Front-
This small cucuk sanggul (made of brass) is almost similar to the three above.
Length: 4cm.

Picture 2
-Back-

Picture 3
The details of the workmanship.

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Another type of old hair accessory used by Malay ladies. This silver hair clip has two functions to tie the hair.
Length: 12cm.

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Picture 5

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Chinese silver enamel hairpin.
Length: 11cm.

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Silver cucuk sanggul from Sarawak.
Length: 10cm.

Picture 2

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Silver cucuk sanggul from Malacca.
Length: 11.5cm.

Picture 2
The details of the workmanship.

Picture 3
The mark at the back of the hairpin.

Picture 1
A jade-like Chinese hairpin.
Length: 17.5cm.

Picture 2

Picture 3
The mark at the back of the hairpin.

Also check on "Cucuk Sanggul (2)".