Nonya Beadwork & Embroidery

Posted by oceanskies79 under Heritage Sites and Trails, Hobbies and Toys, Traditions
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Some time ago, I was out with Eastcoastlife to tour the Katong area.

After our lunch at Kim Choo Kueh Chang Restaurant, we headed for the Kim Choo Kueh Chang - Gallery on the second level. This is a gallery that showcases Nonya Beadwork & Embroidery, Nonya Kebaya and Nonya Porcelain. My eyes were attracted to the colourful beadwork that were on display.

For the Nonyas, otherwise known as the young female Peranakans, the quality of her beadwork and embroidery is often regarded as a reflection of the quality of her upgrading. This is the case as a lot of patience and skills are required to bead and embroider.

In a traditional Peranakan family, a Nonya would have been introduced to and trained in sewing, beadwork and embroidery from an early of twelve, before they get married. Likely, by the time that a Nonya is of a suitable age to get married, she would usually have perfected the skills of beadwork and embroidery.

Look at the beaded shoes found in the photo above. These beaded slippers are known as kasut manek and are worn by Peranakan women as part of their traditional costume. Notice that similar to Malay designs, people are rarely depicted in most of the designs of the beadwork and embroidery. Most of the designs tend to be motifs of animals, phoenixes and flowers.

Look at how fine and tiny the beads are.

In making the kasut manek (beaded slippers/ shoes), I’ve found out at the Kim Choo Kueh Chang - Gallery that usually either Rocaille seed beads or Charlotte seed beads would be used. The beads are sewn painstakingly by hand onto the cloth with the help of a wooden frame (also known as pidangan).

For those of you who are interested in learning how to make such beaded shoes, I heard that Kim Choo Kueh Chang - Gallery conducts such courses. Please click on the link to find out more.

In general, most ladies would place a sample of the design or cross-stitch patchwork in front of them when they sew. This is to guide them in their making of the kasut manek. I read that for those with decades of sewing experience, they can easily sew the designs on from memory. I cannot help but to feel impressed.

If you are still hungry for more insights to the art of making Peranakan beaded shoes, here is a Youtube video that features “a traditional Peranakan beaded shoe-maker, Mr Robert Sng” put up by bristow47 and his team: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kivqEOCx-uw

References:
- http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_198_2005-01-18.html
- Lim, Catherine, G.S. (2003). Gateway to Peranakan Culture. Singapore: Asiapac Books.
- Tan, Gek Suan. (2004). Gateway to Peranakan Food Culture. Singapore: Asiapac Books.

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