Antique house a window into the past

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.

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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.