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During the heyday, you could found beautiful traditional Chinese lantern hanging in front of houses, temples and Chinese Clan Association. Unlike the paper lantern that children play during Moon Cake Festivals, these lanterns are bigger in size and ornate with “meaningful” Chinese wording and painting.  Nowadays, these traditional Chinese lanterns could be found hanging in front of less than a handful of Baba Nyonya houses along Heeren Street and temples in Melaka. Without the appropriate “promotion” from the elder, this traditional heritage is slowly and quietly dismissing along with modernization and the aging of the lantern maker.
In Malaysia, there used to be 3 Chinese lantern makers. One in Penang whiles the others in Melaka. Today, we only have one paper lantern maker in Penang and one cloth lantern maker in Melaka who still practicing this old art and craft.  These traditional lanterns are made from bamboo strips and thin wires. They are shaped to form the spine or the structure of the lantern. Instead of using paper, Mr.Ang (the Melaka lantern maker) uses white cloths to “wrapped” over the lantern’s structure and left to dry. Later, the lantern will be decorated with appropriate wordings and design according to the intended purpose. (For ancestral, business, temple or decorative)
Normally, it takes around 1 month to complete a pair of lantern. These lanterns come in various shape and sizes. Since it is made from cloth, the lantern could easily last for 70 years. Interestingly, more than just decorative items in the house, these lanterns also act as magnet attracting good Feng Shui to the residence of the house. Let me share with you the myth and belief associated with it.  These lanterns are normally custom made for the ancestral of the family as a token of respect and gratitude. This might sound ridiculous as after paying the full amount of the lantern price (which is very expensive), the lantern maker will “liaise” with the intended ancestral for the design and wording of the lanterns for his/her family lineage to “inherit”.
Therefore, these lanterns are considered as the family ancestral fortune and will be passed down from one generation to another. Some people belief that childless couple will have children (son) after they order the lanterns; there are others that experience good fortune and expand their business with the blessing from their ancestral. It’s all up to the individual to belief in this myth or not to. As for me, this few years might be the last opportunity for interested art collector to add in this unique and beautiful Chinese craft as Mr. Ang’s age is catching up.
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