Book: Singapore Heritage Tiles
Book: Singapore Heritage Tiles
A Cross-Cultural Story of Beauty
If you’re an art lover, design enthusiast or travel buff, you’re sure to be captivated by the ceramic gems of Singapore Heritage Tiles: An International Mosaic of Love. Enjoy over 200 exquisite examples from the Arts & Crafts Movement, and Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods in a showcase of beauty, heritage and culture. Australian-Singaporean artist Jennifer Lim takes you on a journey to the patterned past of shophouses, clan houses and commemorative spaces of personal and collective importance.
Be amazed by dragons, dandelions and Shinto shrines captured forever in these ceramic gems and learn more about a surprising mosaic of traditional Chinese customs, foreign influences and local trends. Locally known as ‘Peranakan tiles’, these grand dames were imported from countries such as England, Belgium, Germany and Japan up until the 1940s.
Singapore Heritage Tiles: An International Mosaic of Love is the culmination of a project supported by over 100 volunteers since April 2019. Amid tropical jungle conditions, an international group of Singapore residents and visitors alike have formed friendships through the challenging process of cleaning hundreds of antique tiles ahead of professional photo shoots.
Discover an unique tale of beauty, heritage and life.
Pre-order Your Copy
By pre-ordering your copy of Singapore Heritage Tiles: An International Mosaic of Love, you’ll enable me to focus on finishing my research and writing, and achieve my goal of sharing these fascinating tiles with the world. The soft-cover book of over 90-pages with feature hundreds of professional images to delight you. Delivery set for November, 2021.
Super-supporters: Pre-order the book AND make a donation at the same time!
Supported by National Heritage Board
In pursuit of my passion project, I am constantly faced with funding challenges. I am grateful to have recently been awarded a partial grant via the Singapore National Heritage Board. I am now striving to fund the remaining costs through pre-sales of my book and calendars, as well as through my artwork. Your support will make a huge difference and allow me to fully focus on writing my book.
Welcome to the Singapore Heritage Tile Project
My name is Jennifer Lim and I’m an Australian artist based in Singapore.
The Singapore Heritage Tile Project is inspired by decorative vintage tiles uncovered in my father’s homeland. My journey to trace my heritage has been marked by the strong presence of what many locals call ‘Peranakan tiles'. Since 2012, I’ve come across these ceramic gems so often that it has often felt like they are calling out to me! While I first simply admired them for their timeless beauty, I now also view them as a symbol of Singapore’s cross-cultural DNA and trade links between many countries.
My family tree research has led me to shophouses, clan houses and commemorative spaces of personal and collective importance.
Bukit Brown Cemetery is the focus of my project due to its rich and unusual collection of tiles reflecting Chinese customs, foreign influences and local trends. It’s also a place of rest for several of my family members including my great-great-grandfather from China and my Chinese Peranakan great-grandparents.
Since January 2019, the project has supported by over 100 volunteers since April 2019. Amid tropical jungle conditions, an international group of Singapore residents and visitors alike have formed friendships through the challenging process of cleaning hundreds of antique tiles ahead of professional photoshoots by architectural photographer, Finbarr Fallon.
These beauties of the past deserve further study and greater attention. It’s my hope that this project can contribute to international awareness of antique tiles and promote their protection.
Join me in helping to promote heritage!
My kind-hearted volunteers are the bedrock of this project
What’s in the book?
Take a sneak peek at some of the chapters inside the book!
Chapter 8: Motifs - Flora
Flowers & Plants (English, Other & Japanese floral types)
Stylised Flowers (geometric Japanese types)
Fruits & Vegetables (peaches, pomegranates, finger citron, pumpkins)
Chapter 9: Motifs - Real & Imaginary Creatures
Real & Imaginary Birds (peacocks, swallows, cranes, cockatoo)
Real & Imaginary Creatures (pigs, cows, dragons)
Chapter 10: Motifs - Landscapes, Figures, Objects & Symbols
Landscapes (Chinese, Japanese, European)
Religious Figures, Objects & Symbols (Chinese gods, Buddhist swastika)
Others (Fairies, figures)
One of the most beautiful majolica tile tombs at the Great Bukit Brown Cemetery complex.