Antique Nyonya Wares

Note the distinct colouring which do not usually find such strong colours in Chinese porcelain ware.

This type of porcelain only started in Malacca under Dutch influence, and was an important part of Peranakan households. Most of these wares have intricate motif of flowers, butterflies and phoenixes in bright yellow and rose pink, unlike typical Chinese porcelain.

Antique symbol

People who do not know what to look for often miss the intended meaning carried on a piece of art or craft.

“The good fortune symbols are often conveyed by symbols in the form of people or deities, animals, plants, fruit, motifs, calligraphy, rebuses (visual puns) and paintings.”
Look out for lucky bats, peonies (prosperity), white cranes longevity), mandarin ducks (love), lotus (wealth, offspring) butterfly   (love), crane (longevity), goldfish (abundance of gold), horse
(endurance/strength), magpie (joy), rooster (advancement), cicada (regeneration), or a peach (immortality).
The vase contains several symbols. At the top and base of the vase are five bats surrounding a symbol, “the five fortunes surrounding longevity”. The vase also carries the image of a resplendent phoenix (good fortune or good luck), chrysanthemums (comfortable life) and pomegranates (fertility).

Martin's Rembrant painting

The week-long event was organised by the Netherlands Embassy to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the 50th Merdeka celebrations.

Christ Church, constructed in 1753, is perhaps the only place in the Dutch Square that still serves its original purpose. It gave the event a nostalgic feel of the old days when the Dutch ruled Malacca from 1641 to 1824.

A young bride, posing for’ pictures here, said: “There’s historical charm in the buildings. We were awed by them and decided that we must have our wedding pictures taken here.”

The red laterite Stadthuys (1650), originally the residence of the Dutch Governor and his officials, now houses souvenir stores and a plethora of museums, among them the History and Ethnography Museum.

Dutch Antique Pendant made with blue and white porcelain salvaged from shipwrecks

Statues of cows, Holland’s most iconic animal, lent atmosphere to the Dutch Square. The five life-sized cows, made of plastic and fibreglass, were painted with colourful scenes by artists and children of European Union countries. Placed near the clock tower and fountain, the cows were part of an original 28 made to represent the 27 EU countries and the EU Commission.

Children were seen cuddling the cows while their parents took pictures. The Holland cow featured pink, red and yellow tulips sprouting towards the blue and white sky.

“Cows are an important symbol for Holland,” said Dutch Ambassador Lody Embrechts. He said it symbolised the importance of agriculture as agricultural activities take up 60 per cent of land in Holland.

Unfortunately, except for red roses, stalls at the event offered only fake flowers. There were some fresh tulips but they were not of good quality as it was not the tulip season.

Holland Days In Melaka evoked memories of Dutch rule and one could feel it at the Tradewind Treasures store near the Stadthuys door. Here, one can literally take home a piece of history on one’s finger or around one’s neck. Blue and white porcelain from the Wanli (1625) and Desaru shipwrecks (1830) in the South China Sea were set in silver pendants, earrings and rings and sold as jewellery.

dutchantique- turtle money

The Wanli was a Portuguese vessel that sank off the Terengganu coast while Desaru was a Chinese vessel that sank off )ohor. Porcelain items from the two wrecks, such as plates and kendi (teapots), were sold at auctions or exhibitions. Broken ones were cut up so that the little paintings on them, such as deer, dragons, phoenixes and auspicious writings, could be immortalised on rings and pendants.

Holland Days In Melaka was an opportunity for collectors of Delft blue porcelain to watch master artist Martin V.D. Berg at work. His crafts ranged from little blue and white coasters, teapots, flower pots and fancifully shaped jars, to larger, multi-hued paintings of Dutch people, towns, windmills, country scenes and his favourite artist, Rembrandt.

antique china plates

All emphasis had been place in Ming Dynasty.  However they missed the remarkable antique china plates of Yuan Dynasty.   Yuan Dynasty have known to have most prominent of blue and white porcelain ever to be made for  imperial order.

The foliated diamond diaper border blue and white antique china plate made for the Persian Market decorated with a pair of fish swimming among eel grass.

This perfect blue and white antique china plate decorated with open work panels  framing with flowers and leaves painted with underglazed cobalt blue and red

antique china plates

.  Flawless with perfection Yuan Dynasty Blue and white Antique china plate

There are apparent affinities with similar productions made in China sometimes inhibit attribution to Vietnam. Dissimilarities between the two productions are difficult to describe and illustrate and the kilns which produced these wares are still unknown.

Confusions between Vietnamese and Chinese ceramics arises frequently in cases where Vietnam is identified as the country of acquisition. Whenever in doubt, there a tendency for experts to attribute them to Vietnam.Image via Wikipedia

From the similar productions of Early Vietnamese Ceramics have indicated the Vietnamese potters are aware with the knowledge of Chinese traditions of productions who have assisted in the the development in the production of Early Vietnamese Ceramics

Visit here for more Early Vietnamese Ceramics

However, Yuan Dynasty Art has enormously improved since the Sung Dynasty.  The standards of the ruling reign led to many production of blue and white imperial ceramics meant for the export market.

More Info Here