The Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum

Posted by Poppitz on Apr 27, 2007 in Antiques, History, Museums

Strategically located in the center of Hereen Street (right behind Jonker Street), the Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum promises an unforgetable experience of a journey back in ancient time.

The Babas and Nyonyas are widely known as the descendants of the Chinese who intermarried with the local women when they first arrived in Malaya 600 years ago. The men are called “Babas” while the women are “Nyonyas”. These Babas and Nyonyas are very Chinese in spirits and tradition but Malay in form. They speak the Malay patois which is a Malay language mixed with Chinese phrases.

This museum can be described as “Chinese Baroque” or “Chinese Palladian”, its architecture is Neo-Classical European and characterised by Greco-Roman columns. There are various floral and pictorial motifs grace and beautify parts of the front of the house whilst the interior is adorned with intricately carved fittings finished in gold leaf.

For example, the staircase is one of the finest and intricately carved features of the house, even on its under side is finished with gold leaf gildings. This type of unique architecture feature is believed to be the only in Malacca, if not the country.

Inside the museum, there are a mixed variety of fine furnitures to be found. The Chinese furniture are mainly blackwood and in-laid with mother-of-pearl. Even the sideboards and cupboards are also carved with floral and pictorial motifs. These locally made furniture has very strong Victorian and Dutch influences.