Recognizing cultural identity shift through porcelain decorative use among the peranakan during the straits settlement period

This study examines how shifts in porcelain decoration among the Peranakan community reflect broader transformations in cultural identity during the Straits Settlements period. By focusing on the transition from Nyonya porcelain to British-made ceramics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the research investigates both the symbolic meaning of the decorative and the sociocultural factors that contributed to this shift. Drawing on a comparative historical approach, the study demonstrates how material culture—specifically porcelain—serves as a visual archive of the evolving Peranakan hybrid socio-cultural identity. Despite its cultural significance, Peranakan porcelain remains under-examined in scholarly discourse. This paper contributes to filling that gap by analyzing the intersection of aesthetics, social mobility, and cultural affiliation embodied in porcelain decoration.