Antique house a window into the past
Susanna Tjokro, Contributor/Singapore
Passing through the traditional swing doors of Katong Antique House, I felt as if time had stood still. It's impossible not to be awed by the beautiful works of art scattered throughout the antique house-cum-museum.
Katong Antique House illustrates how the Peranakan community lived once upon a time, filled with everything from crockery and furniture, to beautiful embroidered Peranakan kebaya (blouses) and exquisite beaded slippers.
Each piece has a special story to tell.
The man who knows them is the owner, Peter Wee. He has a deep passion for Peranakan culture -- the mix of traditional Malay culture of Singapore and the Malay archipelago with that brought by Chinese immigrants -- and is himself a fifth-generation Baba.
The first vice-president of the Peranakan Association is often consulted by the Singapore History Museum and the Asian Civilizations Museum on cultural details. He is also an adviser on Peranakan wares for Christie's auction house.
Peter Wee Ban Kheng was born in 1946, the youngest of two sons of Wee Guan Hong from Indonesia and Josephine Tan Pin Neo. While his father's family was wealthy rubber traders, his mother was the only child of Tan Cheng Kee, one of the four sons of a wealthy businessman from Malacca, Tan Keong Saik, who owned the rows of houses along the road named after him.
Josephine's father, Tan Cheng Kee, owned considerable property in Katong and Changi as well as two movie theaters -- Alhambra and Marlborough.
Peter established Katong Antique House in 1979, after inheriting the building from his maternal grandfather. The house was built more than 100 years ago and has been renovated, yet it still evokes a feeling of time stood still within its walls.
"I love sharing my knowledge of Peranakan culture and passing it on to others," said the warm, soft-spoken Peter.
Like all good storytellers, he brings his subjects to life, including for those who appreciate art and culture but are not experts.
The first hall, called the reception hall, is also an antique shop.
"This is a living museum, where history and culture come alive," said Peter.
After five years buying and selling, he started putting things away for his collection, intrigued by their tales.
He sells antiques and Peranakan-related goods, such as Gateway to Peranakan Culture (S$10) and beautiful antique kebaya among others. Exquisite Kasut Manek (beaded slippers) are priced from S$150 to S$450. Peranakan beadwork requires patience and perseverance as the beads must be painstakingly sewn one by one onto the slipper-face.
The second hall is a dining area, where Peter entertains his guests and friends. Peter introduced me to his mother, Josephine, who turned 90 in October. She always wears kebaya and sarong; just like other Peranakan her age, she does not speak Mandarin, only Malay and English.
The early Peranakans kept their ancestral beliefs in Buddhism and Taoism. However, during British colonization of Malaya, including Singapore, in the 19th century, many Peranakans embraced Christianity.
"Today we're Christians, so we don't keep our ancestral altar, but we do have an ancestor's wall, as the memorial of our ancestors," said Peter, pointing an old wall adorned with framed photographs.
The upper level is the main gallery: Spittoons, colorful tiffin carriers and vases decorate the steep staircase. The gallery is filled with artifacts that represent the Chinese and Malay influences on Peranakan life, such as huge carriers for wedding dowry and old kebaya.
His grandmother's intricately embroidered wedding slippers are among the most precious items. He also has a mini library of old books.
Peter has a deep passion for batik -- particularly Pekalongan batik from Central Java, including many old, perfectly preserved pieces. "I also like to listen to Javanese keroncong music."
In the perut rumah, literally the "stomach" or heart of the house, is a kitchen where modern kitchen utensils, find space next to old crockery as well as traditional utensils, such as pestle and mortar.
Peter wants to pass down the styles of Peranakan baking and cooking, and offers such ingredients as Gula Malacca (thick brown palm sugar, three pieces for S$2) and home-made curry powder (S$6).
"Selling the things is like selling the culture. Each thing tells a story and the story will make the culture what it is today," said Peter.
------------------------------------ Katong Antique House 208 East Coast Road, Singapore Tel: (65) 6345 8544 Opening hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. All are welcome by appointment A 45-minute-tour costs S$15, inclusive of a cup of coffee or tea and cookies.