Penang: Pinang Peranakan Mansion

The Peranakan is a prominent community in the Straits Settlement particularly in Penang, Melaka and Singapore.They had created a unique lifestyle and customs which had not only left behind a rich legacy of antiques but its cultural influences like cuisine and language which are still evident in Penang today. Thus, Pinang Peranakan Mansion is a must visit to have a glimpse of their opulent lifestyle and of their many customs and traditions. After my visit to the Chew Jetty, I make my way to Lebuh Gereja while enduring the heat. I was greeted with the flourescent green visage entrance, truly an eclectic sight indeed.

The Dining Hall is my favourite section in this museum. Richly decorated with European-styled teak furniture, Victorian ceramic figures and glass epergnes, affluent Baba households even have a separate western-styled dining room meant for entertaining peers and European guests. Even the dinnerware are imported from Europe.

The Pinang Peranakan Mansion is a stately mansion, refurbished to reflect bygone days of the Straits Chinese settlement in Penang. Check out the elaborate screen doors with beautiful carvings. The filigree panels also allow the womenfolk to take a peek at visitors.

The Mansion occupies the former office-cum-residence named, Hai Kee Chan. He built Hai Kee Chan around 1895 on the site of the Ghee Hin triad headquarters. In 1899, Chung Keng Kwee built his family temple next to Hai Kee Chan which is still being used by his descendants for ancestral worship.

The elegant staircase handrail with balusters of cast iron are from Glasgow, Scotland. A distinct feature of European influence includes the hollowed out design of fleur-de-lis on the decorative ironwork.

With over 1,000 pieces of antiques and collectibles of the era on display, this Baba Nyonya museum is also housed in one of Penang’s heritage mansion of eclectic design and architecture.