enticz: 2012

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Silver Chatelaine Grooming Sets

These two fine silver chatelaine grooming sets below are either from Southern China or the ethnic Chinese minority of Straits Settlements.

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Above grooming set comprises a chain which allows the set to be suspended from a belt. The panel at the top is in a shape of lion dog with two dangles or bells in the shape of peach fruits. The lower part, with open-work panel in the shape of a deer motifs on each side, suspended with three grooming tools on separate chains. Length: 23cm.

Below is rather a magnificent antique silver flower basket adorned tool kit. Overall, this is an unusual and decorative set. Length: 32cm.

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Do check out the post about the "Silver Enamel Chatelaine Grooming Set".

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Cheki Card Game

Many Chinese love to play "Mahjong", the Babas created a favourite card game of their own called Cheki. If the Babas say they go "ber-Cheki", then you know, they are playing something similar to "Gin Rummy".

This 60-card pattern is traditionally used by Indonesian and Malaysian players of Chinese descent. About one century ago, the gambling game of Cheki (also spelled as Ceki or Tjeki), also known as Kowah, was particularly popular among the Babas and Nyonyas ethnic groups living in Malacca, but it is still played today by the descendants of such immigrants.

This pattern has very strong analogies with the classic Chinese Dong Guan cards. There are values from 1 to 9 of the suits of 'Coins', 'Strings' and 'Myriads', plus the 'Old Thousand', 'Red Flower' and 'White Flower' cards, and their illustrations are very similar too. Therefore, Cheki cards are a further variety of money-suited cards.

In Cheki decks, each subject is duplicated twice, and there is no 'Gui' (or "devil") card; therefore, the pack contains only 60 cards. But since the game requires two decks (120 cards in total) for being played, a clear analogy with the aforesaid Chinese pattern can be told. Furthermore, the game of Cheki is not very different from Mahjong, whose cards belong to the money-suited group, as well.

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Friday, November 16, 2012

French Gilt Gold Metal Cord Thread

These French gilt gold metal threads are made with real metal, wrapped around a cotton core. It is about the size of sewing thread. These threads were used in metal embroidery for couching and other embroidery stitches.

Generally, the French gold thread is made of thin plates of metal cut into strips, and wound round strands of cotton in the same manner as the Japanese gold. If the metal is real, the cost is of course great. It is sold by weight. In addition to its superiority in wear, it has this advantage, that old gold or silver thread is always of intrinsic value, and may be sold at the current price of the metal whatever state it may be in. Many varieties of gilt thread are manufactured in France and England, which may be used when the great expense of real gold is objected to. But although it looks equally well at first, it soon becomes tarnished, and spoils the effect of the embroidery.

French Gilt Gold Metal Cord Thread.

The closer look of the thread.

The label stating "FINE GOLD THREAD".

The other side of the label stating "MADE IN FRANCE".

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Rocaille Beads / Manek Potong

Rocaille means uneven surface in French. Originally the beads were irregular in shape, thus the term "rocaille". They were first used in 1647 by the French for trading with Africans and other colonies, as well as with Native Americans for furs. The colourful beads were used by Native Americans to decorate clothes and even weapons. After 1900, when tourist traffic increased on reservations, bead-working increased to create pieces for sale. Bead weaving is still popular today around the world, as supplies are readily accessible.

Rocaille beads come in a wide variety of colours and finishes and are available from 1.3mm in diameter to 6mm. The inside of the glass bead is a different colour than the outside. Traditionally, it was silver, but now it's available in a variety of colours. Although all rocaille beads are seed beads, not all seed beads are rocailles; the difference is in the glass construction of the rocaille beads. The outside sheen, either clear or iridescent, creates a unique finish for each bead.

Bead weaving is the primary use for rocaille beads. Bead weavers use looms to thread beads, and the end result is a tightly woven piece of jewelry. For bigger pieces, a loom isn't needed, and the bead work is called needle weaving. These pieces can decorate clothing or items around the house.

Rocaille beads were made in Southern France and were widely used in Singapore and the other Straits Settlements such as Penang and Malacca for the purpose of beading, such as beading slippers, wedding pillow ends, betel set mats and other paraphernalia associated with Baba and Nyonya culture. The Straits Chinese referred to the beads as 'manek potong' which mean cut beads. It always came strung in bundles of ten and were peddled by the travelling haberdasher known as the 'klentong' man. The term comes from the clanging of his hand held drum, which signalled his arrival as he went around the neighbourhood selling items like thread, needles and beads.

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The colourful rocaille beads from my collection.

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A clearer look of the tiny beads by using macro lens.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Pair Of Beaded Slipper (Kasut Manek) Faces

This pair of beaded slipper faces, made to be used as the toe covers for a pair of slippers to be worn by a Straits Chinese woman or Nyonya, most probably to a traditional Straits Chinese wedding, are decorated with multi-coloured rocaille glass beads so that each face shows a swimming swan against a pink geometric bead background. The patterns are the reverse of each other with the two swans facing opposite directions.

The beads have been sewn to a layer of stiffened fabric which has been attached to a layer of hand-made, unmarked paper, then finally to more fabric. The ensemble has been finished with bright green beads edging.

The bead work is in excellent condition. There are no losses and the beads have remained bright and lustrous.

Rocaille beads were made in Southern France and were widely used in Singapore and the other Straits Settlements for beading slippers, wedding pillow ends, betel set mats and other paraphernalia associated with Baba and Nyonya culture. The Straits Chinese referred to the beads as 'manek potong' (cut beads) and acquired them from street peddlers and specialist merchants for the purpose of beading and embroidery.

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Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Baba And Nyonya Silver Chopsticks

Silver chopsticks can be found as table settings in several Asian nations, and people may also use them for formal Asian style dinners in other regions of the world. Asian markets and specialty importers can often obtain silver chopsticks for people who want them, and in some cases, they may be passed down as family heirlooms, just like the silver flatware in the West. They can also be custom made by a metal smith upon request.

There are a number of reasons to use silver for chopsticks. As in the West, silver is associated with formal dining, making silver chopsticks a specialty item which may be brought out on special occasions and for special guests. Silver has a nice weight and balance which can lend a weight of gravity and formality to the occasion, and silver chopsticks may be simple, with smooth surfaces and clean lines, or more ornate.

Some people have personal chopsticks made from silver which they may eat with most meals or even carry with them. Historically, silver chopsticks were used in some parts of China out of fear of poison. According to popular belief, silver chopsticks would rapidly tarnish in the presence of poison, so someone who feared poisoning would carry silver chopsticks as a form of poison detection. Royalty ate from silver for this reason as well.

In the modern era, poisoning is not a large concern for most diners, with silver chopsticks being used for formality, or out of tradition. The chopsticks may be solid silver, or silver accents may be used on chopsticks made from other materials, such as wood. The pattern can also be coordinated with silver serving utensils such as spoons for communal dishes and soups, for people who like their tableware to match.

Pictures below show a pair of Baba and Nyonya silver chopsticks found in Penang. It is believed to have been used at the wedding for the bride and groom (usually with two pairs) to show the status and wealth of the family.

Length : 23cm.

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Friday, September 21, 2012

Sarawak / Brunei Large Zoomorphic Bronze Kettle

Pictures below show a large zoomorphic bronze kettle from my collection. This monumental, large brass or bronze kettle was cast in the early 20th century on Borneo island in either Sarawak or Brunei. It stands on a wide foot cast with geometric and lotus petal motifs.

The sides of the body are cast with two dramatic Borneo-type dragons, fish, lotus root segments and a grotesque gargoyle mask. On the shoulder of the base stand two cast tree frogs. Another has been cast onto the flap that slides over the end of the spout. A lid, which sits in the kettle, has a grotesque amphibian-like creature as its finial. A pair of river prawns with extended claws, a tortoise and a crab have been cast into the side of the lid along with two lotus root cross-segments. The spout is emit from the mouth of a bearded dragon. A large cast handle with elaborate scrolls has cast into the top with a dog-like creature (same in between the spout and the body) in between two snub-nosed crocodiles. Both the base of the handle also has cast with two bird's head-like at each side.

The kettle was used not for heating or preparing beverages but for hand washing on ceremonial occasions, particularly by Iban people on Borneo.

A kettle as large and elaborate as this would have been used for special feasts only, particularly for weddings where wealth and ostentation need to be on display, which only in wealthier households.

Extant examples of old brass ware from Brunei and elsewhere on the island of Borneo frequently exhibit strong Chinese influence such as dragons despite Islam being Brunei's main religion today.

Height: 32cm, Length: 35cm, Weight: 4.5kg.