Title
Spittoon
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
Kuala Lumpur, British Malaya
Dimension
Gross measurement: H:5.0 x Dia:5.7 cm
Accession No.
2009-03038
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Sunny Chan Hean Kee
This spittoon could have been the smaller, more portable variety that was carried around by Nonyas during their travels for their personal use. It has a wide mouth, bulging shoulders and a tapering body. The decorative motifs on this piece include dark red peony sprays. Peonies symbolise spring, love, beauty and good fortune. These are set against a green enamelled background which can symbolise youth and spring. Spittoons could be used to hold the remains of chewed betel nut quids, which was a fashionable pastime among Nyonyas. They were also often used as urinals at night, especially as there were no upstairs bathrooms in the homes of the Peranakan Chinese.
