Antique house a window into the past<\/p>\n
Susanna Tjokro, Contributor\/Singapore<\/p>\n
Passing through the traditional swing doors of Katong Antique
\nHouse, I felt as if time had stood still. It's impossible not to
\nbe awed by the beautiful works of art scattered throughout the
\nantique house-cum-museum.<\/p>\n
Katong Antique House illustrates how the Peranakan community
\nlived once upon a time, filled with everything from crockery and
\nfurniture, to beautiful embroidered Peranakan kebaya (blouses)
\nand exquisite beaded slippers.<\/p>\n
Each piece has a special story to tell.<\/p>\n
The man who knows them is the owner, Peter Wee. He has a deep
\npassion for Peranakan culture -- the mix of traditional Malay
\nculture of Singapore and the Malay archipelago with that brought
\nby Chinese immigrants -- and is himself a fifth-generation Baba.<\/p>\n
The first vice-president of the Peranakan Association is often
\nconsulted by the Singapore History Museum and the Asian
\nCivilizations Museum on cultural details. He is also an adviser
\non Peranakan wares for Christie's auction house.<\/p>\n
Peter Wee Ban Kheng was born in 1946, the youngest of two sons
\nof Wee Guan Hong from Indonesia and Josephine Tan Pin Neo. While
\nhis father's family was wealthy rubber traders, his mother was
\nthe only child of Tan Cheng Kee, one of the four sons of a
\nwealthy businessman from Malacca, Tan Keong Saik, who owned the
\nrows of houses along the road named after him.<\/p>\n
Josephine's father, Tan Cheng Kee, owned considerable property
\nin Katong and Changi as well as two movie theaters -- Alhambra
\nand Marlborough.<\/p>\n
Peter established Katong Antique House in 1979, after
\ninheriting the building from his maternal grandfather. The house
\nwas built more than 100 years ago and has been renovated, yet it
\nstill evokes a feeling of time stood still within its walls.<\/p>\n
\"I love sharing my knowledge of Peranakan culture and passing
\nit on to others,\" said the warm, soft-spoken Peter.<\/p>\n
Like all good storytellers, he brings his subjects to life,
\nincluding for those who appreciate art and culture but are not
\nexperts.<\/p>\n
The first hall, called the reception hall, is also an antique
\nshop.<\/p>\n
\"This is a living museum, where history and culture come
\nalive,\" said Peter.<\/p>\n
After five years buying and selling, he started putting things
\naway for his collection, intrigued by their tales.<\/p>\n
He sells antiques and Peranakan-related goods, such as Gateway
\nto Peranakan Culture (S$10) and beautiful antique kebaya among
\nothers. Exquisite Kasut Manek (beaded slippers) are priced from
\nS$150 to S$450. Peranakan beadwork requires patience and
\nperseverance as the beads must be painstakingly sewn one by one
\nonto the slipper-face.<\/p>\n
The second hall is a dining area, where Peter entertains his
\nguests and friends. Peter introduced me to his mother, Josephine,
\nwho turned 90 in October. She always wears kebaya and sarong;
\njust like other Peranakan her age, she does not speak Mandarin,
\nonly Malay and English.<\/p>\n
The early Peranakans kept their ancestral beliefs in Buddhism
\nand Taoism. However, during British colonization of Malaya,
\nincluding Singapore, in the 19th century, many Peranakans
\nembraced Christianity.<\/p>\n
\"Today we're Christians, so we don't keep our ancestral altar,
\nbut we do have an ancestor's wall, as the memorial of our
\nancestors,\" said Peter, pointing an old wall adorned with framed
\nphotographs.<\/p>\n
The upper level is the main gallery: Spittoons, colorful
\ntiffin carriers and vases decorate the steep staircase. The
\ngallery is filled with artifacts that represent the Chinese and
\nMalay influences on Peranakan life, such as huge carriers for
\nwedding dowry and old kebaya.<\/p>\n
His grandmother's intricately embroidered wedding slippers are
\namong the most precious items. He also has a mini library of old
\nbooks.<\/p>\n
Peter has a deep passion for batik -- particularly Pekalongan
\nbatik from Central Java, including many old, perfectly preserved
\npieces. \"I also like to listen to Javanese keroncong music.\"<\/p>\n
In the perut rumah, literally the \"stomach\" or heart of the
\nhouse, is a kitchen where modern kitchen utensils, find space
\nnext to old crockery as well as traditional utensils, such as
\npestle and mortar.<\/p>\n
Peter wants to pass down the styles of Peranakan baking and
\ncooking, and offers such ingredients as Gula Malacca (thick brown
\npalm sugar, three pieces for S$2) and home-made curry powder
\n(S$6).<\/p>\n
\"Selling the things is like selling the culture. Each thing
\ntells a story and the story will make the culture what it is
\ntoday,\" said Peter.<\/p>\n
------------------------------------
\nKatong Antique House
\n208 East Coast Road, Singapore
\nTel: (65) 6345 8544
\nOpening hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
\nAll are welcome by appointment
\nA 45-minute-tour costs S$15, inclusive of a cup of coffee or tea
\nand cookies.<\/p>",
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