More Than Decorative Chinese Lantern

Its helps to attracts fortune, prosperity and …

Introduction/History of the lantern

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.

Traditional Chinese Lantern The Oval Shape Lantern

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.

The Traditional Lantern Makers

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.

Chinese Lantern The handpainted design on the lantern

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.

The Myth and Belief

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.

Oval Oblongated Traditional Chinese Lantern The Oval Oblongated Shape Lantern

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 traditional Chinese lantern as Mr. Ang’s age is catching up.

Example of Chinese Lantern Design & Theme

Traditional Lantern Design Figure A: Traditional Chinese Mythical Themes as the design.

Melaka Traditional Lantern Figure B: The Dragon & Fenix Lantern Ordered by a U.K Couple.

Melaka Traditional Lantern Figure C:One pair of Traditional lantern Ready for Pick-Up.

Melaka Traditional Lantern Figure D: The side and back view of the lantern

Melaka baba Nyonya Lantern Figure E: The Lanterns are full with designs, even the lantern's bottom included!

Traditional Lantern sketch Figure F:The Draft of the Traditional Lantern

traditional Lantern unfinished Figure G: The Finished & Partly Finished Traditional Chinese Lanterns

Traditional feng shui Lantern The theme of restaurant's indoor Feng Shui Lantern.

Details That You Should Know Before Ordering Your lantern

1.Size of the Lantern

Size of Lantern	Size S	Size M
Height (excluding the hanger)	24.5 inches	31 inches
Circumferences of the Lantern	49 inches	62.5 inches

*Note: The size given work as guidance only. The above lantern use bamboo strip 28 inches & 32 inches (lenght) respectively. You could order your preference size.

2. Lenght of the Lantern Hanger

The available lenght of the hanger are 5 inches, 7 inches & 9 inches.

3. Painting/design of the Chinese lantern

Theme 1: The Chinese Eight Immortal crossing the sea. (八仙过海)

Theme 2: Fairy come down to earth (仙女下凡)

Theme 3: Happy United Family (合家欢)

Theme 4: Everyone Happy (大家乐)

Theme 5: Dragon & Fenix (龙凤)

Theme 6: Mountain and waterfall scenery painting (山水景)

*Special Remarks:

For outdoor Feng Shui Lanterns (business & house), the themes are fixed which is Theme 1 & Theme 2 for the lantern.
Indoor Feng Shui Lanterns, you could choose theme no 3, 4, 5, 6.
Non-Feng Shui Lanterns, you could choose any of the design.
Business Feng Shui Lantern for Restaurants Owner (indoor) will be ONE oval shape lantern. The theme is fixed: 顾客满桌。

Note: We also accept others design specific by customer. (Different design for temple, association, business etc)

4. Duration taken to produce one Chinese lantern

Approximately: 1 and half month - 2 month.

Note: However, it all depends on the current order. For orders taken at the end of year 2010, the waiting period will be around six months.

5. Price for oval oblongated lantern

The Price per lantern starts from MYR 4,100.00 per pair. (current price)

Note: The price is correct at time of publish. ( November 2010). The old price of RM 3,500 -RM 4,000.00 is not available.

Please take note that the price of oval lantern is much more higher due to the difficulty to paint on it.

6. Payment terms

Once the design & size of the lantern have been agreed, a 100% payment is needed in advance for booking as all the lanterns are custom made. We do not take partial deposit as to prevent the incident of goods not collected after it is ready.