One of the remarkable things about the Peranakan Museum is the amount of items on display that were donated by people seeking to preserve the Peranakan heritage. For example, this grand bed donated by Katong Gal has a rich history that traces itself back not only in Singapore, but Penang and China as well.

My great-grandparents shuttled to and fro between Singapore and Penang frequently, with assorted children in tow. Earlier on, my great-grandmother went back to Penang just to give birth to her children on the beautifully carved bed which her father had given her. Subsequently this bed was brought to Singapore and my great-grandmother donated it to the Singapore Museum. I visited it in the museum as a child (I remember that dusty old museum). I am happy and proud to say that I visited it yesterday, restored to glory.

Read about Katong Gal’s great-grandparents in Kawan-Kawan Katong.

Tags: Peranakan Museum, Peranakan bed