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BRITISH COLONIAL, Straits Settlements(1786-1957）

Penang's British colonial period (1786-1957) left behind many products and utensils with the characteristics of the era. These items combined European craftsmanship with local needs, reflecting the social life and cultural integration of the time.

Daily necessities and household utensils

(1) Pewter tableware and tea sets (Pewterware) - British colonists introduced pewter craftsmanship and produced pewter teacups, trays, cigarette cases, etc., which were often engraved with Victorian-style patterns or family emblems. They were used as symbols of tea drinking and dining in the upper class, and some products were also exported to Europe.

 

(2) Ceramics (blue and white porcelain/colonial style porcelain) - British bone china (cups and plates with the East India Company logo or Penang scenery) and Nyonya porcelain (Chinese craftsmen imitated British styles and added Chinese floral or gold-rimmed decorations, such as "blue and white porcelain" dinner plates). Representative brands include British Spode and Wedgwood's Southeast Asian custom models.

 

(3) Glass Kerosene Lamp - A lighting fixture used in the streets and wealthy homes of Penang in the 19th century, with a glass lampshade and a metal base, some of which were made in Europe or locally copied.

Office and clerical supplies

(4) Typewriters and pens - British Imperial or American Underwood typewriters, commonly used in colonial government offices. British Conway Stewart pens, paired with local coconut-carved pen holders.

 

(5) Seal stamps - used to seal official documents, with the words "Straits Settlements" or "Penang" engraved on the seals.

Food and Beverage Products

(6) Pewter Bar Sets -- The social life of the British colonists gave rise to local tinsmiths making whiskey jugs and cocktail shakers, some of which were engraved with club logos (such as "Penang Club").

 

(7) Spice grinders -- Made of cast iron or brass, used to grind spices such as pepper and cinnamon for export from Penang, some of which were made by British manufacturers.

Transportation and Tools

(8) Rickshaw Accessories -- Metal bells (brass, engraved with English letters) and awning hooks (handmade iron products, used to fix awnings).

 

(9) Ship Equipment -- Sextant is a navigational surveying tool used in the Port of Penang during the British colonial period. The ship's compass is made of wood and is made in the UK. It is now preserved in the Penang Maritime Museum

Medical and scientific instruments

(10) Medical instruments from the colonial period - glass syringes (made in Britain in the late 19th century and used in the Penang Colonial Hospital) and brass stethoscopes (a testimony to the early introduction of Western medicine into Malaya).

 

(11) Astronomical clocks and barometers - used by British officials or businesses for meteorological observations, some of which are preserved in the Pinang Peranakan Mansion.

 

 

Building hardware and decoration

 

(12) Cast iron doorplates and fences - British doorplates (such as "No. 18, Love Lane") and cast iron stair railings on old buildings in George Town, printed with the words "Made in Birmingham".

 

(13) Encaustic Tiles - Victorian-style geometric tiles imported from Britain, used in churches and government buildings (such as the Penang Town Hall).

 

Personal items and clothing

(14) Pocket watches and watch chains -- Silver pocket watches worn by British gentlemen (such as early Omega models), often with watch chains paired with Penang tin pendants.

 

(15) Nyonya clothing accessories -- British imported materials, such as Manchester lace (used in kebaya tops) and Victorian-style brooches.

 

These colonial products and utensils are not only a testimony to Penang's history as an important trading port, but also a display of the pragmatic fusion of Eastern and Western cultures.