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Subject:Wooden Mold - Origin, Purpose, Symbols?
Posted By: Gakusei Tue, Nov 07, 2017 IP: 91.97.248.235

What is the purpose of this mold? What people carved it? Concerning the meaning of the symbols: Chain of coins, fish, lotus bud and a chinese character which I cannot find in dictionaries.
The mold is of quite heavy wood (440 g, 26,5 cm long, 14,5 cm wide, 3,0 cm thick.





Subject:Re: Wooden Mold - Origin, Purpose, Symbols?
Posted By: JLim Wed, Nov 08, 2017



Dear Gakusei

The top mould looks remarkably like the brilliant red cakes eaten on special occasions by members of my family. I assume they are moulded in this sort of thing. We call them "kuih". I prefer the pandanus and coconut jelly kuih.

Don't know if it's a SE Asian Nyonya thing, or if they eat this sort of thing in China too; it might well be.

Kind regards
J.Lim

Subject:Re: Wooden Mold - Origin, Purpose, Symbols?
Posted By: Gakusei Thu, Nov 09, 2017

Thank you very much for your reply. In fact the "kuih" was the keyword for a successful search documented in the picture.
Gakusei



Subject:Re: Wooden Mold - Origin, Purpose, Symbols?
Posted By: Gakusei Mon, Nov 13, 2017

Dear Mr./Ms. Lim,

thank you again for your answer. Because I am living in Europe some of your information is enigmatic for me. "SE Asian Nyonya thing"? In what country is your family living? This could presumably clarify the country of origin of this mould.

Kind regards, Gakusei

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Subject:Re: Wooden Mold - Origin, Purpose, Symbols?
Posted By: JLim Tue, Nov 14, 2017



Dear Gakusei

Sorry, I should have made things clearer. I am living in Australia, but of Malaysian Chinese origin on my father's side.

The brilliant red kuih made in this form of mould is typical of Malaysian Chinese special occasions like New Year(I think). This is a part of "Nonya" or expatriate Chinese Southeast Asian culture.

Technically my father's family was not Nonya, but I think such cakes are typical of Nonya culture.

On nonya culture:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peranakan

On red kuih:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tortoise_cake



Kind regards
J.Lim


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