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7/29/2019 Traditional Crafts of Malaysia
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http://travelmalaysiaguide.com/traditional-crafts-of-malaysia/
Traditional Crafts of MalaysiaPosted bypktanon May 1st, 2007
Filed Under:About Malaysia
Batik
Colored designs on textiles, which can be either cotton or silk, are produced by
applying wax to the parts that are left uncolored. This traditional method is
practiced in various forms throughout the Malay Archipelago, with Terengganu
batik as a particular favorite with tourists. Its elegant print stand out as evening
wear, and can be found as art pieces on bags and cushion covers.
Songket
A legacy of the courts of Pattani, the fabric is usually reserved for use on special
and ceremonial occasions. Dubbed the cloth of gold, songket is produced when
threads are interwoven with gold and silver strands, resulting in a brocade of
intricate designs and patterns. Each length of cloth represents days of laborious
and dexterous work using traditional looms and cotton-spinning devices.
Woodcarving
One of the oldest traditional crafts in the country, Terengganu woodcarvers take
their inspiration from Islamic art and the rich local flora. Although some are
decorative pieces, most have a more practical purpose. From houses to palaces,
the craft is seen through the intricate designs on beams, supports, balustrades,
doors, window shutters, as well as furniture. All bear testimony to the exquisitecraftsmanship and enduring quality of the states woodcarvers.
Mengkuang (Pandanus Weaving)
Weaving used to be a leisurely pastime of coastal village women in the east coast
states of Peninsular Malaysia during the rainy months. Today, it is a thriving
cottage industry. The tall, thorny leaves of the pandanus or mengkuang are
collected, boiled, dyed and made into colorful mats, beach bags, hats, fans,
purses, and slippers.
Kite(Wau) Making
See the dazzling display of kites gliding and swooping across the azure sky! It
was once played by farmers on leveled ground after post-harvesting season.Today, however, kite-flying attracts people from all walks of life. Over the years,
kite festivals have encouraged more creativity in kite-making, thus resulting in
kites designed in the shape of a fish, cat, caterpillar, or bird. But the Kelantanese
wau-bulan (moon-kite) still remains as popular as it was years ago.
Keris
The most important personal weapon of the Malays, the keris is a two-edged
sheathed dagger with an ornate carved handle. Although it has become famous
on account of its sinuous blade, the keris is intended to deliver a horizontal thrust,
as distinct as a downward stab.
Boat making
The small island of Pulau Duyung near Kuala Terengganu is where local craftsmen
practice the art of traditional boat making. They work entirely from memory and
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experience, without any set plans, using skills handed down from generations
before.
Rattan Weaving
The rattan, a climbing palm with long thin jointed pliable stems, is just one of the
many native plants that are woven and thus given practical value by the local
people. Before it is woven, the rattan is boiled to kill its tissues and to get rid of
its sugar content. This is to ensure that it lasts, and also to prevent it from
attacks by woodworms. Mainly used in the making of furniture, the rattan is
highly popular for its durability, as well as its aesthetic quality.