The bowl holds a reserve price of RM7,000 and is an original Penang Peranakan piece, likely from the 1900s. Collectors say the price may reach as high as RM50,000 at the auction on May 21.
SCPA, a special interest group of some 2,000 Penang babas and nyonyas, will help auction some 100 items let go by private individuals and members.
It will take a small brokerage fee from the auctioned items to raise funds to host the 30th international Baba Nyonya Convention in November.
The terms Peranakan or Baba (men) and Nyonya (women) typically refer to people who are of Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage.
Their origins can be traced back centuries to the time when the Chinese emigrated to the British Straits Settlements of Malacca, Singapore and Penang.
The immigrants married local women. Their cultures and customs merged and became known as the Peranakan culture.
SCPA president Tan Gin Soon said it hoped to raise at least RM20,000 or more for the 30th Baba Nyonya Conference, which would see some 100 delegates from all over the region.
“We also want to promote Peranakan culture and the living history of the Baba and Nyonyas in Penang through this event,” he said at a press conference at SCPA mansion on Perak Road today.
Tan said an exhibition showcasing the Peranakan culture as well as the wares to go under the hammer will be held at SCPA on May 19 and 20. The auction itself will be on May 21.
‘Night soil’ bowls fetch RM400,000
Peranakan wares are highly sought after, says a Baba expert with even chamber pots used to collect “night soil” (faeces) fetching S$120,000 (RM400,000) at an auction in Singapore some years ago.
Cheah Chooi Aik, the vice-president of the State Chinese (Penang) Association, said although the chamber pots were considered “dirty”, the uniqueness of the design made them highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
“Chamber pots and spittoons with unique designs are still highly sought after.
“These unique Peranakan designs, be it bowls or other ceramics, are only unique to Malacca, Penang and Singapore. They are ordered from China, custom-made for babas and nyonyas,” he said.
Cheah said Peranakan wares had unique colours and were rare in the Chinese diaspora.
He said blueish-purple, dark green (famille verte), powder blue and pink colours were usually not found on mainland Chinese ceramics, but only on Peranakan wares.
Cheah said this type of pottery go back two centuries, dating back to the time the Chinese arrived in Malacca and adapted to Malay customs.
He said a typical Peranakan ceramic ware had designs of flowers, vegetables and Malay-styled motifs, while mainland Chinese ones were usually filled with dragons and other motifs.
“It is easy to spot a Peranakan ware. If it does not have a dragon, it is likely to be a Peranakan.”
Auctioneer Stephen Soon, of MNP Auctioneers Central, said the auction will be telecast live online. Bidding from other countries will also be accepted.
He said those who wanted to auction off their Peranakan wares, old photos, silverware or anything related to Babas and Nyonyas can come to the SCPA for an appraisal before April 8.
Those interested to learn more about the auction can email [email protected] or [email protected] or phone SCPA at 04-226 9560 during office hours.
SCPA is located at the corner of Perak Road and Pangkor Road, George Town, right after the Chinese Recreation Club.