An auction in Singapore recently set a record for Peranakan or Straits Settlement porcelain, as a Guangxu kamcheng sold for Sin$74,000 (£46,000). The Peranakanese, also known as the Baba-Nyonya, are the descendants of the first Chinese settlers in the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian Archipelago. The material culture of this group has become a lively market in recent years, as their distinct lifestyle fades into history. The collecting base has broadened in both Malaysia and Singapore, with Straits Settlement porcelain, popularly known as Nyonya ware, being a particularly desirable item.
Nyonya ware was exported to the region from Jingdezhen between 1856 and 1945 and features distinct color combinations, motifs, and shapes that define the collecting hierarchy. Covered bowls and stands, known as kamcheng, and covered jars decorated in enamel against strong background colors, known as kat may or chupus, are particularly popular. Blue and white wares were reserved for everyday food storage and pickling, while polychrome ‘festive’ pieces were used for auspicious occasions such as weddings.
A large collection of Peranakan decorative arts was offered at Hotlotz as part of a timed online sale that closed on January 16. The items came from two colonial-era properties in Singapore and Malacca, which had been furnished with pieces offloaded at the time by local Peranakan families. The gem of the collection was a pink ground ‘in and out’ kamcheng with enamelled decoration of butterflies among pink and white peony blossoms and foliage. It has a red printed Guangxu (1874-1908) reign mark to the base and was in good condition apart from small rim chips. Estimated at Sin$10,000-15,000, it sold for Sin$74,000 plus 30% buyer’s premium to a Singapore collector. Further items from the same source, including a significant numismatic collection, will feature in Hotlotz sales during 2023.
An auction in Singapore recently set a record for Peranakan or Straits Settlement porcelain, as a Guangxu kamcheng sold for Sin$74,000 (£46,000). The Peranakanese, also known as the Baba-Nyonya, are the descendants of the first Chinese settlers in the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian Archipelago. The material culture of this group has become a lively market in recent years, as their distinct lifestyle fades into history. The collecting base has broadened in both Malaysia and Singapore, with Straits Settlement porcelain, popularly known as Nyonya ware, being a particularly desirable item.
