How can one bird bring so many cultures together? The male peafowl has long inspired artists and their patrons in India, China, the UK and beyond with its majestic beauty. As director of the Singapore Heritage Tile Project, I’ve uncovered various vintage tiles featuring this elegant creature on tombs at Bukit Brown Cemetery, a final resting place for many Chinese residents of Singapore including members of my family.
The peacock, known as ‘kongquè’ (孔雀) in Mandarin, first appeared on Chinese textiles some 2,000 years ago. Depictions of the bird were used on clothing to indicate the rank of officers in the Ming dynasty due to its association with status. It’s possible that local Chinese in Singapore viewed the peacock as a close cousin to the mythical phoenix, which is said to represent supreme beauty and grace in Chinese culture.
Early peacock motif tiles in Singapore were made in England, where the bird can also be seen in the various arts and crafts inspired by Chinoiserie and Japonisme. UK designer William Morris (1834 - 1896) produced textile works such as ‘Peacock and Dragon’. It seems likely that the popularity of peacocks in English culture stems from the British colonial presence in India. As India’s national bird, the peacock is highly revered and appears in many forms of ancient art.
A more modern take on the peacock appeared in the 1920’s as Japanese tile makers began to successfully export their wares to many colonies in South-East Asia. Some fine examples of such tiles in India can be found at both temples, and some prestigious homes in Chettinad.
In terms of design, most of the peacock tiles I’ve uncovered at Bukit Brown are a single tile, twin-tile or four-tile panel. Accidentally breaking a single tiles from a panel was no doubt an expensive mistake. The labour involved in importing these tiles from overseas and transporting them carefully to the tomb site, often located on the side of a hill, resulted in a costly means of decoration.
I often wondered if peacock tiles were limited to tombs of women, but it doesn’t seem so in the case of young Eddie Chan. This lavishly decorated tomb features a variety of Japanese tiles. There are actually a few mysteries behind this tomb, which was erected during the early days of the Japanese occupation of Singapore. Read more about Eddie Chuan’s tomb
Peacocks also appear on my own family’s tombs. On my second trip to the cemetery in 2014, I was surprised to see an elegant pair of peacock tiles on my great-grandparents’ tomb from 1936. The twin tomb of my Peranakan great-grandfather, Tan Teck Yam, and his wife, Ong Leong Neo, is flanked by two panels of birds facing each other. Other tiles on the tomb include those with a floral border, landscape scenes, goldfish and a duck! I’ve since observed that animal motifs at the cemetery are relatively rare, with flowers and floral patterns much more commonly found.
It’s fascinating to see the popularity of peacock tiles at Bukit Brown Cemetery, which I consider Singapore’s best outdoor museum. If you’d like to hear more, watch my recorded Facebook Live, ‘Peacocks on Parade’.
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Learn more about heritage efforts behind the Singapore Heritage Tile Project
Singapore Heritage Tiles: An International Mosaic of Love'
Capturing the rich mosaic of traditional Chinese culture, overseas influences and local trends, Australian-Singaporean artist Jennifer Lim reveals over 200 stunning vintage tiles restored through community efforts.
Art lovers, design enthusiasts or travel buffs will be captivated by stunning examples inspired by the Arts & Crafts Movement, and Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. Enjoy a journey to the patterned past and help raise heritage awareness. Order your advance copy here