Peranakan porcelain was exported from China as a result of a specialized market in South East Asia, mainly in Malaysia and Singapore.
Peranakan or Baba Nyonya are terms for a subgroup of the Straits Chinese and their unique culture. They are descendants of early Chinese emigrants who settled on both sides of the Malacca straits as early as the 15th and 16th centuries. That is, mainly in the areas of present-day Singapore, Malacca and Penang.
These early settlers often took Malay or Indonesian brides and as a result their culture and objects were influenced by the local Malay culture, creating a very distinct local Chinese flavor.
In the second half of the 19th century affluent straits Chinese started ordering porcelain wares in China, having them custom made to their own taste. These Nyonya wares represent one of the most colorful porcelain wares made in China.
The Straits Chinese porcelain is generally brighter colored than any other export porcelain made in China. The base color is often a bright yellow, green, pink, etc.
In the local porcelain design the phoenix and peony have a prominent position in porcelain decorations. Also, the phoenix appears often is larger on Nyonya porcelain than on porcelain used in China.
A word of caution if you are offered Peranakan or Nyonya porcelain.Some of this is not porcelain made specifically for the Straits Chinese. Some are regular porcelain, the same made for domestic use in China. They assumedly were also shipped at the same time, and are now on sale as "Straits" Chinese porcelain.
Do you own real antique Nyonya porcelain? You are welcome to post images to the Visitor Gallery to let other visitors enjoy the beautiful colors of Straits Chinese porcelain.
In the second half of the 19th century affluent straits Chinese started ordering porcelain wares in China, having them custom made to their own taste. These Nyonya wares represent one of the most colorful porcelain wares made in China.