Title
Studio portrait of a Indian Peranakan (Chitty Melaka) family
Year/Period
Early 1950s
Region
Singapore
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Gross measurement: 47.5 x 28.5 cm,
Object size: 24.0 x 28.5 cm,
Image size: 20.5 x 15.0 cm,
Frame size: 47.8 x 27.8 cm,
Image size: 15.0 x 20.5 cm
Object size: 24.0 x 28.5 cm,
Image size: 20.5 x 15.0 cm,
Frame size: 47.8 x 27.8 cm,
Image size: 15.0 x 20.5 cm
Accession No.
2025-00767
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr Ponnosamy Kalastree
This is a studio portrait of a Peranakan Indian family in Singapore in the 1950s.Standing, left to right: Selvarajoo; Ramasamy Suppiah; Saraswati Pillay; Kunia Pillay, Sutheyvall Kannoo.Seated, left to right: Kathaiammal Chitty (also known 'Mak Kechik'); Mrs Pillay (also known as 'Chending'); Letchumi Pillay; Vengathamal Chitty.Peranakan Indians (also known as Chitty Melaka or Chetti Melaka) are descendants of South Indian traders (particularly Tamils) who settled in Malacca during the 15th to 16th centuries and married local women of Malay and Chinese descent. They trace their roots to Kampung Chitty, in Gajah Berang, Malacca, and there is a small community numbering approximately 5,000 in Singapore.