Promoting craft in British Malaya, 1900-1940

Hwei Fen Cheah*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In the first half of the twentieth century, the government of colonial Malaya sought to rejuvenate the country's traditional craft through exhibitions, craft promotion, and training. However, British intervention was not necessarily premised on the best interests of the craft industry. Drawing on official documents and colonial commentaries, this article examines colonial constructions of Malay traditional craft. Here, the purported demise of craft skills validated colonial encroachment into craft production. Despite promoting craft as an industry and in technical education, the colonial government's approaches naturalized craft as rural work associated with low intellect. By focusing on expanding the markets for Malay crafts, I argue that they also provided an opportunity for colonial officers to emphasize a shift in craft patronage and endorse alternative forms of knowledge about local craft.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)165-185
    Number of pages21
    JournalJournal of Modern Craft
    Volume6
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013

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