Sarawak Museum receives new artefacts from public donors

Borneo Post

18-06-2025

Abdul Karim (second left) inspects the antique goldsmithing tool set and machinery with (from left) Ting, Snowdan and Nancy. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (June 18): The Sarawak Museum Department has acquired several significant artefacts from public donors, enhancing its collection of historical and cultural items.
State Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah revealed that among the recent contributions is a set of antique goldsmithing tools and machinery.
This set was donated by Teo Keng Boon, the grandson of the late master goldsmith Teo Chai Seng, he told a press conference after chairing a Sarawak Heritage Council meeting here today.
The set, used to process and shape gold bars into plates and wires for jewellery-making, includes hand-operated machinery, a workstation, various hand tools, a gas canister, a vault, and the original shop signboard.
'Entirely operated by hand, the tools are estimated to be approximately 93 years old. The goldsmithing establishment, Chop Swee Hin, initially operated at No. 11, Jalan Rock until 1950, before relocating to No. 8, China Street, Kuching on Oct 18 1988.
'The business ceased operations permanently on Nov 29, 2005,' he said.
Another notable acquisition is the tail bone of the Triso whale, part of a 13-metre sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) skeleton recovered in November 2024.
The whale carcass was found drifting in Pulau Seduku waters before becoming trapped at a bridge construction site near the Triso Ferry.
'Now part of the Museum's zoology collection, it is the largest whale specimen ever obtained and holds significant value for research and exhibition,' said Abdul Karim.
The successful recovery effort was a collaborative operation involving the Sri Aman Resident Office, Lingga and Sebuyau District Offices, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and the local community, he noted.
The artefacts put on display during the press conference. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
Also donated were two antique copper pots from Surau Darul Falah, Kampung Tupong, which were handed over by the surau's chairman, Sakeran Bujang, on June 12.
'According to Sakeran, the copper pots were used by the villagers to cook rice, porridge, and dishes during communal events, and were kept at the Surau.
'The pots are estimated to be over 70 years old, as they have been in use since the first surau was built,' Abdul Karim said.
'The current Surau, where the pots were stored, is the third to be constructed and was completed on June 10 2001,' he added.
There were several other artefacts which were revealed last month, and were also put on display during the press conference.
Among them were two traditional and antique Sarawak sunhats donated by John Lavery, originally belonging to his parents, Bill and Pam Lavery.
'The donor claimed that the authentic sunhats were obtained during the formation of Malaysia in 1963 in Kuching.
'Bill Lavery was posted to Limbang that same year as a teacher and later served as headmaster under the Colombo Plan of External Aid of the Canadian government to Sarawak.
'The Lavery family left Sarawak in 1965. The hats were later passed on to their son, John Lavery, who entrusted it to the Sarawak Museum for safekeeping,' Abdul Karim said.
Another valuable item is an old parang (machete) from Tebakang, Serian, donated by Lewis Mengu.
'The donor claimed that this parang has been with his family for almost 100 years.
'He claimed that the parang originally belonged to a group of headhunters who confronted Bueng and his wife in the early 1900s.
'Bueng was Lewis' forefather. In the ensuing fight, Bueng fought bravely and took one of their parangs.
'He brought it back to Kampung Tebakang Bidayuh, where it became a treasured family heirloom. The parang remained with the Bueng's family, passed down through generations,' said Abdul Karim.
Additionally, two unglazed ceramic vases from Santubong were donated by Mohd Rizal Bujang.
His father, Bujang Abdullah, discovered them in the 1970s while fishing off the coast of Santubong with the late Ibni Zen and Othman Zen, said Abdul Karim.
In another development, Abdul Karim said Sarawak is preparing to welcome an evaluation team from Unesco for the field assessment of the Sarawak Delta Geopark, scheduled for June 23 to 26.
'I am also pleased to share that the Sarawak Museum Department is actively collaborating with the Sarawak Forestry Department on the Sarawak Delta Geopark project,' he said.
The Unesco assessors are expected to visit several key sites, including the Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM), the Bukit Maras and Sungai Jaong archeological sites, and the Semeba Schist Tuang.
'This field evaluation mission represents a crucial step in the Sarawak Delta Geopark's journey toward being recognised as a Unesco Global Geopark,' said Abdul Karim.
Also present at the press conference were State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts deputy ministers Datuk Sebastian Ting and Datuk Snowdan Lawan, as well as State Museum Director Nancy Jolhi.