Straits & Oriental Museum
Penang folks typically frequent Gurney Paragon Mall for retail therapy or grocery runs. But perhaps not many are aware of a fascinating museum with an impressive collection of ancient Chinese ceramics, located right in the mall’s lobby.
Fittingly tucked within the historical St. Joseph’s Novitiate building, the Straits & Oriental Museum is the first museum in Penang that houses over 250 pieces of ancient oriental ceramics and porcelains from various dynasties and known shipwrecks.
Read on to discover some of the treasures at this museum.
Chinese ceramics, porcelains & shipwrecked ceramics
The 3-storey St. Joseph’s Novitiate building is hard to miss. The heritage building stands out with its old-world granduer amidst contemporary retailers and chic dining outlets in Gurney Paragon Mall. It also happens to house a museum, which brims with stunning, historical porcelain pieces.
Taking up the uppermost floors of St. Joseph’s Novitiate, also called St. Jo’s by locals, the museum comprises three galleries that hold a sizable collection of various ceramic wares. These include pottery pieces from different Chinese dynasties, export ceramics destined for overseas markets, as well as a fascinating display of fragmented ceramics from shipwrecks.
Let’s first delve into the halls and treasures you’ll be able to see here.
Hall 1 – displays of Chinese ceramics with varied glazes & styles
Enter Hall 1 of the museum, and you’ll find an exquisite display of Chinese ceramics with varied glazes and styles, unique to their periods and home geographies.
The spectacular array of ancient pieces show the evolution of ceramics to porcelains, as well as the development of finesse and craftsmanship in the art – telling a story of how Chinese porcelain became treasured objects across the globe.
A Carved Longquan Celadon Peony Vase from the Ming Dynasty sits in the middle of a display.
Among the ceramics featured at the museum are a few early unadorned Cizhou jars, and monochrome ceramics in a rich variety of dazzling colours – from deep amber to green and cobalt blue.
An amber-coloured ceramic from the Tang Dynasty, and a green-glazed vase incised with dragons during the Jiaqing period from the Qing Dynasty.
During the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, single-coloured ceramics gave way to more intricate designs. These periods were known for porcelains with blue-and-white images and patterns, auspicious iron-red paint, elaborate Famille Rose (Fencai) polychrome. Not to be missed are the famed Dayazhai porcelains, with their brilliant overglazed enamel motifs painted against a light green background, specially made for the powerful Empress Dowager Cixi.
Hall 2 – exported ceramics & Straits Chinese porcelain
The next gallery, Hall 2, exhibits a remarkable collection of export ceramics from international trading vessels, a testament of the vast demand for Chinese porcelain back in the day. Here, you’ll find fine blue-and-white Kraak dishes, as well as Canton porcelain with decorative painted surfaces that meld Western and Chinese motifs. Both ceramic wares were highly sought after in the West.
Straits Chinese blue-and-white porcelain.
Another range of ceramics displayed here are Straits Chinese porcelain, once especially popular among the Peranakan Chinese – or Baba Nyonya – in Penang, Melaka, and Singapore.
The tableware and furniture in this collection exude a distinct elegance – some are resplendently-hued and others boast the ubiquitous blue-and-white designs still common in Peranakan homeware to this day.
Hall 3 – shipwrecked ceramics
Head to the last gallery, Hall 3, which will likely intrigue visitors the most.
Featuring shipwrecked ceramics recovered from the sea bed, this exhibit highlights the historic diplomatic significance of the maritime porcelain trade.
Thai celadons.
An orderly display of large round dishes with cracked and jagged rims, some even speckled with sea barnacles, are Thai kilns known as Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai. These were found on excavated shipwrecks.
There are also fractured pieces from the Wanli shipwreck on display, featuring Ming porcelain that suffered from a cargo explosion. Many other pieces were salvaged from shipwrecks in Malaysian waters, including Turiang, Nanyang, Royal Nanhai, Xuande, and Desaru.
Shipwrecked storage jars that were used as rice containers for rice wine fermentation.
St. Joseph’s Chapel & seasonal exhibitions
Your tour through history doesn’t end at Hall 3. After you’ve been thoroughly awed enough by the exquisite ceramics and porcelains in the Straits & Oriental Museum, head down to the second level to explore St. Joseph’s Chapel in the building. The priceless heritage site helped the mall earn a place in the Malaysia Book of Records for being the “First Shopping Mall Integrated With A Heritage Building”.
St. Joseph’s Chapel is a serene sanctuary in the midst of a bustling mall that boasts a fascinating mix of local and colonial influences in its aesthetics. Its interior is bathed in light from enchanting stained glass windows and opulent chandeliers above.
Architecture buffs will want to their time to marvel at the magnificent carvings, columns, arches, mosaics, and ceramic tiles.
On the same floor, you can find event spaces that regularly hold seasonal exhibitions. Currently ongoing till March 2023, The Golden Realm of Myanmar showcases the traditions and culture of Myanmar through a collection of keepsakes, collectibles, and antiques.
If you’re a fan of paintings, browse through an art gallery here that’s filled with paintings and art by local artists. Other spots to visit in the museum include a gift shop and WM Cafe, where you can sip on a cup of cappuccino – complimentary with each museum ticket – after your trip through history.
Straits & Oriental Museum in Penang
History nerd or not, the origins and intricacies of pottery art on display at the Straits & Oriental Museum is bound to inspire you to look at the art in a new light. So, the next time you’re at Gurney Paragon Mall, consider popping in the museum to discover captivating treasures of an ancient artform.
Entrance fee is RM25/pax, and visitors are entitled to a free cappuccino at WM Cafe.
Address: 163C-3-1 St. Jo’s Gurney Paragon Mall, Gurney Drive, 10250 Georgetown, Penang
Opening hours: 10am-7pm, Daily
Contact: 011-1722 7007 | Straits & Oriental Museum website | Facebook
Read more interesting features of places in Penang here:
- Pinang Peranakan Mansion, house museum filled with Peranakan antiques in Penang
- Meowseum Penang, quirky cat museum in Penang for cat lovers
Photography by Jia-Ju.
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia