Malaysia Culture & Heritage - Handicrafts

Handicrafts

Fascinating Handicrafts Galore

Malaysia boasts a delightful variety of traditional handicrafts. Choices range from priceless authentic antiques to exquisite modern hand-made crafts.

As most artisans are Muslims, Malaysian handicraft design is heavily influenced by Islam. The religion prohibits the depiction of the human form in art. Hence, most designs centre around natural elements such as the interlacing of leaves or vines, flowers and animals predominantly birds.

Wear them. Use them. Or just display them.
Exotic treasures at amazingly attractive prices, Malaysian handicrafts are definite must-haves.

Textiles

Colourful and captivating, Malaysia's traditional textiles are much-sought-after worldwide. Varieties include batik, songket, pua kumbu and tekat. These textiles are made into sarongs, pareos, beachwear, headgears, shoes, beddings, cushions, table covers, bags, de'cor pieces and more.

Batik refers to the process of dyeing fabric by making use of a resist technique; covering areas of cloth with a dye-resistant substance to prevent them absorbing colours. The colours in batik are much more resistant to wear than those of painted or printed fabrics because the cloth is completely immersed in dye.

Songket or cloth of gold utilises an intricate supplementary weft technique where gold threads are woven in between the longitudinal silk threads of the background cloth. In the past, this rich and luxurious fabric demonstrated the social structure of the Malay elite.

Pua Kumbu is made from individually dyed threads on a back strap loom. Its supernatural motifs are inspired by dreams and ancient animist beliefs. Nature is re-interpreted by the weaver. The patterns that emerge are a fusion of the real and surreal. And each weave is distinctive of its maker's art.

Tekat refers to the art of embroidering golden thread onto a base material, generally velvet, which was traditionally used to decorate traditional Malay weddings regalia.

Jewellery & Costume Accessories

Enticing hand-crafted accessories abound in Malaysia. Choose from leather-crafted goods, Borneo beadwork necklaces, bangles, hats, beaded pouches and more. Finely made gold and silver jewellery adorned with gems such as rings, bracelets and earrings are also seductively mesmerising.

Kerongsang is a three-piece brooch set traditionally used to pin the lapels of the baju kebaya together. Kerongsang usually comes in sets of three. The typical three-piece set comprises of a kerongsang ibu (mother piece) which is larger and heavier. The other two is called the kerongsang anak (child pieces) and is worn below the kerongsang ibu.

Cucuk Sanggul is a hairpin used to secure their hair in a bun at the back of their heads. Typically made of gold or silver, these hairpins are normally worn in graduated sets of three, five or seven on festive occasions such as weddings.

Pending is a large, intricately ornamented belt buckle worn around the sampin, a skirt-like cloth worn by men, to complement their baju melayu, the traditional attire for men. Traditionally, the pending is a sign of wealth and status for men.

Earthenware

Popular items of traditional design include Perak labu sayong, geluk, belanga, Chinese dragon kiln ceramics and Sarawakian tribal motif pottery. Contemporary items include vases, flower pots, decorative pottery, sculpture and kitchenware.

Labu sayong is a black-coloured gourd-shaped clay jar typically used to store water. The state of Perak is renowned for this type of pottery.

Belanga is characterised by a round base and wide rim. It is often used to cook curries as it is believed that its round base allows heat to be distributed more evenly.

Terenang is an angular-shaped jar popularly used for storing water in the states of Pahang and Terengganu. It has a concave neck and a convex body.

Wood Crafts
Blessed with an abundance of timber in boundless tropical forests, Malaysia is renowned for an assortment of distinctive wood crafts. Traditionally, whole houses were built from elaborate hand-carved timber. Today, antique Malay-styled engraved panels, keris dagger handles, Chinese containers, unusual Orang Asli spirit sculptures, moulded walking sticks, kitchen utensils and carved scented woods are among the wide range of exotic decorative items for your home.

Metal Crafts
Popular since the early days traditional brass casting and bronze working are still used to make an array of utensils. More recently in the 19th century, with the discovery of tin in Malaysia, pewter has become increasingly popular. Metal craft products include decorative items, vases, small furniture pieces, kettles, cooking utensils, serving trays, bowls, tepak sireh sets, candelabras, incense burners, rose-water instruments, keris blades, wind chimes and lamps.

Hand-woven Crafts
Marvel at the creative hand-woven crafts of Malaysia. Local plant fibres and parts from bamboo, rattan, pandan and mengkuang leaves are coiled, plaited, twined and woven to produce items such as bags, baskets, tikar or mats, hats, tudung saji and sepak raga balls.

Pastime Crafts
Traditional pastime crafts include gasing or spinning tops, wayang kulit or shadow-play puppets and wau or kites. Intricately designed with much skill and patience, these fascinating items are perfect mementos.