Straits porcelain is ‘Kee’ to her collection

Kee who has written a book on Nyonyaware is more than happy to share her knowledge with others.

Kuala Lumpur: Author and collector Datin Seri Kee Ming Yuet will give a public lecture on the joys of collecting Straits Chinese porcelain tomorrow in Chinatown. 

Kee’s maiden book Straits Chinese Porcelain: A Celebration of a Unique Malaysian Heritage Showcasing the Datin Seri Kee Ming-Yuet Collection was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently.  

According to the author, it was the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood who was instrumental in getting her to do the book on Straits Chinese porcelain, popularly known as nyonyaware. 

Said Kee: “It will be my first time talking publicly about my collection of nyonyaware but I want to share my knowledge with others so as to encourage more people to appreciate the unique Baba Nyonya culture in Malaysia. 

Kee will give a slide-presentation on Collecting Nyonyaware tomorrow in conjunction with the 28th annual general meeting of the South-East Asian Ceramic Society, West Malaysia Chapter. 

“I am quite nervous as I will be talking to people who are also collectors of nyonyaware and who are experts in the field. But knowledge is meant to be shared and I hope to learn more about the subject from others as well,” said Kee. 

Based on the pictures of nyonyaware in her book, the author will talk about her journey since the 1960s to hunt for nyonyaware, including some of the most unusual pieces in her collection. She will also discuss “reign” and “shop” marks found on such porcelain as well as the motifs. 

Prized items from the author’s collection were recently displayed in Muzium Negara in conjunction with The World of the Peranakan: Baba-Nyonya Heritage of South-East Asia exhibition. Selected pieces will also be exhibited overseas soon. 

The coffee-table book Straits Chinese Porcelain was jointly published last December by Kee Ming-Yuet Sdn Bhd and Cross Time Matrix Sdn Bhd. Proceeds from the sale of the book go to Yayasan Budi Penyayang, Wushu Federation of Malaysia and the Oympic Council of Malaysia. 

·The dinner talk tomorrow is open to the public with a donation of RM25 to the South-East Asian Ceramic Society. For details, call its representatives Mrs. K.K. Low (03-7875 0255) or Mr Tee (016-221 8111).