The preservation of traditional trades and food of Penang, plays a significant role in keeping the history and culture alive in the UNESCO heritage city of George Town. However, with the emergence of technology and changing times, it has become quite a challenge today to find artisans still practising the skilled craftsmanship from the old days. Here are a few of the rare craftsmanship we come across that have been passed on to today’s generation and hopefully for more generations to come.
Wooden Signboard Engraver
Kok Ying Chow Signboard Maker at No. 41 Queen Street, was started by Mr. Kok Ying Chow who migrated to Penang from Guangdong China and mastered the craft from the age of 14. The business was passed on to his son, Mr. Kok Ah Wah, who is one of Penang’s remaining wood engravers today. This fine wood-engraving art by hand has been in the family for 70 years.
(left) chinese character carvings by Mr. Kok using different chisel heads; (right) Mr. Kok in the midst of preparing another signboard to be engraved
Rattan Weaver
Lee Soo Kee Rattan huddled amongst a row of shophouses on Chulia Street, is one of the few places left where craftsmen can be found weaving cane furniture by hand.
rattan chairs exhibiting fine craftsmanship
Traditional Locksmith
At the corner of Carnarvon Street and Campbell Street, a local locksmith stands under the shade of a colourful umbrella. Known for his expertise in key-making by using conventional tools and old key cutting machines, a constant stream of customers wait to be served, as he works busily throughout the day.
key cutting in progress
Handmade Pastry Making
Hidden along a small lane off Chulia Street is Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Kueh. Apart from traditional nyonya kueh, the family run business makes other delicious pastries like curry puffs and spring rolls.
(left) preparing curry puff skin; (right) spicy filling for the curry puff, usually made of potato and minced meat
(left) huge woks in a row; (right) deep frying popiah-chi, a type of spring roll
Good to see all these handcrafts have been passed on for generations. I enjoyed the Ratton weaving. I made a basket when I was in high school. I also wish that all Masters in each experties would let students or people who are interested in learning to come in to learn their techniques
:)
Beautiful scenes. Hope scenes like these will not fade away with time.
Wooden signmakers please stay! When I have my own studio next time, I want one
Oh, you are featuring the old time biz…good! Got feel~
Great pictures of traditional handicrafts,
how can you go their workshop and kitchen? I don’t think is easy…
Thanks for sharing. Great to know there is still someone could do the wood engraving art and signboard today in Malaysia.
i appreciate the photos you took, specially the one with locksmith. i think that’s hard to capture. thanks for sharing the culture.
btw, from camp 2 – summit, it took me 1-1.5 hours i think. it took longer becuase I didnt have a headlamp.
Very nice pictures! Well, taken.
Interesting. Is this part of the Penang Heritage Trails?
I don’t remember having curry puff with minced meat, as pork! You mean?
Sardine, yes. Boiled egg, yes. But no minced meat.
Ha ha… I’m just a “suah gu” kampung boy from Johor!
Re: Hail to the sun / 向太阳致敬 / Sanjungan kepada matahari / 太陽に敬礼する
No. Taken last spring. It’s not far away from the Dorchester Hotel.
Re: Hats that can talk / 会讲话的帽子 / Topi yang boleh bercakap / 言葉が話せる帽子
Yes. Apart from Covent Garden, they can be seen easily in the South Bank.
Re: Gourmet get-together / 美食大会 / Perjumpaan gourmet / グルメ大会
Those cupcakes were actually free. But I couldn’t be bother to queue up.
They also gave away free paella with real seafood like mussels and prawns.
micki: u did rattan weaving before… interesting.. u still have the basket?
Mei Teng: yea.. me too. everything is done in factory these days… very few of these arts done by hand now.
Nicholas Leong: haha cool… u’ll have a very authentic one hanging up at ur studio
uLi: yup yup… bring back old times
Rafael: the signboard engraver and rattan weaver are actually featured as heritage shops on the heritage trail brochure, so they should be quite used to visitors. As for the pastry shop, i followed my aunt who has been their customer for years… so customers just drop by the house cum shop and the woks and cooking is just at the entrance.
Cecil: yup althought getting rare
chyng: thanks! the locksmith was actually quite alright with me taking photos.. when asked for permission he joked (in hokkien dialec), if he knew he was going to be photographed he would have worn a suit.
superwilson: thanks!
Che-Cheh: yes it is.. u can get a brochure featuring the first two shopss from the penang heritage centre. many other heritage crafts u can visit.
London Caller: johor doesn’t have curry puff with chicken? usually it’s either with potatoes only or mixed with chicken too. u’ve been in london too long…
WOW! This is the BEST series from your Penang trip. LOVE all of them!!! I always wanted to walk into these shops and capture the traditional living heritage up close and personal. But, I’m kind of ’shy’ and ‘embarrass’ to do so.
The curry puff skins look like button mushrooms! LOL!
Cheers!
Alex Loke
That curry puff looks oh-soooo yummy!
Ron
geng! you really portray pg heritage trail..
loving it~
It’s an impressive post. Like your photos that depict the insights of the traditional craftsmanship. Did you just walk in and snap the photo or you actually asked for their permission before doing it? Did you interview them as well?
Like your photos very much.. The color of the pictures really make me keep my eyes on it…
mylo & shelyn : hey thanks! glad u guys liked this post. i think the first two (signboard engraver and rattan weaver) have lots of visitors since they’re on the heritage brochure.. so i showed them the brochure i was holding and asked if i could take photos. the keymaker was quite happy to be taken… and the biscuit shop – happened to follow my aunt there who was getting some biscuits and they didn’t seem to mind. but yes i’ve been rejected/told off before for taking .. some don’t like their faces to be taken so i try to be cautious also …
ron: have u tried curry puff here? u have them in manila too?
taufulou: glad to feature the heritage of ur hometown
keeyit: thanks for visiting kee yit! do drop by for more photos…
Signboard maker never bother to replace its own signboard, LOL…
Wondering if these arts will be lost in another 2 or 3 decades…
khengsiong: haha yea! but i think the old antique look of the signboard makes it all the more heritage like. imagine a bright new shining signboard – wouldn’t really complement the shop i don’t think.
Hi lechua,
I’m really salute about the way you photograph the Sign board shop & the Locksmith…
I’m curious, don’t mind sharing your experience that how you approach the shop to let you take photos of them?
Thanks.
it’s really quite cute that the sign board shop has such an old signboard for itself
I love craftspeople and all the fine work they do. The personal touch is something no computer or technology will ever be able to replace.
Robo: for the signboard shop, since they were featured in the heritage tourist map, i showed them the map i was holding and told them i was interested in seeing the uncle at work. also asked if it was okay to take a few snaps. i think the uncle is used to visitors. for the locksmith… i happened to be tagging along with my aunt (penangite who speaks much better hokkien than me) and she just asked in hokkien if it was okay for me to take… and he joked that he shud have worn a suit if he knew he was going to be photographed.
Ashwin: haha yup…. u noticed that too eh… to preserve the antique look
nothingprofound: yes i think that’s what makes every piece unique and a masterpiece in itself
Hi lechua,
Thanks and appreciate for your reply. I think I will visit the area you been before.
Cheers!
Hi Lechua,
Have enjoyed reading all info and comments about Penang. I’m going in late April this year and want to have a look at, and hopefully buy, some good quality local crafts. Are craft products easily found for sale, or are most of the shops selling trashy, cheap souvenirs, or alternatively, the usual international brands that you can find all over the world (who needs more of that stuff anyway!)? I hope to find items that truly express Penang and its wonderful, diverse cultural heritage. Any info. and advice you can give me will be much appreciated. Did I say I love your photographs?
Thanks,
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
Thank you for dropping by. I came across a few recommended art & crafts places listed in lonely planet that you may want to try out. Click on the link below. Hope this info might come in handy.
http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9a02sRJKFhMC&pg=PA187&lpg=PA187&dq=authentic
I hope you have a fantastic time during your visit in Penang!