Straits Chinese Porcelain - 'Nonya Ware'

The term ‘Straits Chinese porcelain’ refers specifically to a little known category of 19^th century, polychrome enameled export porcelain, which was exclusively made for that community of Straits-born Chinese whose ancestors first settled down in Malacca at the beginning of the 14^th century. The Straits Chinese settlements of Penang, Singapore and in particular Malacca are a distinct and unique culture that differentiates them from other communities in Malaysia.

Among the most distinctive aspects of this culture is the tableware used by the community – predominantly famille rose polychrome wares known as Nonya Porcelain – specially commissioned from the porcelain kilns of Ching-te-chen in China. What makes it so special is that it was made at the Imperial porcelain kilns in China exclusively for the Baba-Nonyas, and thus unique to Malaysia.

Straits Chinese porcelain differs from the traditional types of wares made in China, not only in the shapes of the potting, but also in the style of decorative designs. Nonya Ware is characterized by its baroque exuberance of decorative motifs and the most vivid and colourful  famille rose enamels. Nonya Porcelain is richly decorated – Despite its distinctly ornate appearance, Straits Chinese porcelain is decorated with one recurrent theme, namely, the phoenix-and-tree peony design. Equally remarkable is the fact that shapes are starkly simple and functional.