Fashion: An essential factor influencing the development of 19th to 20th centuries Peranakan decorative motifs

Abstract

Peranakan, also called Baba Nyonya, are often defined by anthropologists as the offspring of Chinese fathers (from the 15th Century Ming marine trade expeditions) and local Malay mothers. The Eclectic style of Peranakan culture is a precious example of cross-cultural integration between countries, which reached its peak in the 19th and 20th centuries. The culture of Peranakan permeates all aspects of life, such as language, religion, food style, social rituals, architecture and material culture, and in many of these aspects, there is the use of decorative motifs. The hybrid identity of the Peranakan has long been recognized as an essential factor influencing the development of Peranakan decoration. However, under the influence of the booming trade in Eurasia, fashion also gradually became an important factor influencing the development of native Chinese decorative motifs in the 19th and 20th centuries. As the research is drawn from the past, this study employs the logic and methodology of comparative historical research. By comparing the different responses of European, local Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Peranakan decorative patterns to the Chinoiserie fashion event, it is determined that fashion has influenced the development of native Chinese decorative patterns. The interpretation is based on Simmel’s philosophy of fashion.