Michael Backman Ltd - Home
Rare & Large White Brass (Tembaga Puteh) Wash Basin
Malaysia
19th century
diameter: 47cm; height: 12.6cm
This large basin, made to sit in a Chinese bridal wash stand, is engraved with a chrysanthemum bloom in the base. The sides are beautifully fluted to evoke
petals and the flattened rim is finely engraved with stylised Tang-style cloud and scrolling flower motifs.
The decoration shows Chinese influence rather than being to Chinese tastes. Indeed, the motifs accord with Malay tastes and so it is likely that this basin is of
Malaysian origin, the product of either Malay or local Chinese artisans working within the Malay-Islamic aesthetic. Quite possibly, the basin was made for a
local Straits Chinese or baba / nonya client rather than importing a similar item from China.
White as opposed to yellow brass was most usually associated with Terengganu state in northern Malaysia. It was reserved for items of a more luxurious
nature such as expensive betel sets, perfume sprinklers and trays. Yellow brass was used for more utilitarian objects such as cooking pots and hand washing
kettles.
White brass (tembaga puteh) is made white with the addition of extra parts of zinc to the molten metal. Zinc not only lightens the colour but increases the
hardness of the resulting item. However, it also is more brittle - a casting stress mark runs across part of the base in the item here for example.
Inventory no.: 18
This Item is available - Ask about this item
Rare & Large White Brass (Tembaga Puteh) Wash Basin
Malaysia
19th century
diameter: 47cm; height: 12.6cm
This large basin, made to sit in a Chinese bridal wash stand, is engraved with a chrysanthemum bloom in the base. The sides are beautifully fluted to evoke
petals and the flattened rim is finely engraved with stylised Tang-style cloud and scrolling flower motifs.
The decoration shows Chinese influence rather than being to Chinese tastes. Indeed, the motifs accord with Malay tastes and so it is likely that this basin is of
Malaysian origin, the product of either Malay or local Chinese artisans working within the Malay-Islamic aesthetic. Quite possibly, the basin was made for a
local Straits Chinese or baba / nonya client rather than importing a similar item from China.
White as opposed to yellow brass was most usually associated with Terengganu state in northern Malaysia. It was reserved for items of a more luxurious
nature such as expensive betel sets, perfume sprinklers and trays. Yellow brass was used for more utilitarian objects such as cooking pots and hand washing
kettles.
White brass (tembaga puteh) is made white with the addition of extra parts of zinc to the molten metal. Zinc not only lightens the colour but increases the
hardness of the resulting item. However, it also is more brittle - a casting stress mark runs across part of the base in the item here for example.
Inventory no.: 18
This Item is available - Ask about this item
The basin in a Chinese wash stand
- the stand is not included but is
shown here to illustrate the basin's
relative size.
- the stand is not included but is
shown here to illustrate the basin's
relative size.
