Heritage Crafts of Georgetown

The heritage crafts of Georgetown in Penang have been preserved by UNESCO which declared it a World Heritage Site in 2008. The artisans have carried their trades down from generation to generation in the same family and there is not a tradition of apprenticeship for fear of competition. Some of the trades are dying out with their last member but the Georgetown Heritage Trust is trying to keep them going.

I have had the pleasure to meet a few of these tradespeople and purchase their crafts including:

Mr. Lee, a sign carver and sculptor:

Mr. Lee (and family) the joss stick maker (incense sticks burned in the Buddhist temples):

Mr. Ng, a calligrapher and Chinese seal carver:

A fish net maker:

Mr Haja Mohidin, a hat (called songkok) maker:

A rattan furniture and basket maker:

A flower garland maker for Hindu temple offerings: