Coloured
ceramic tiles are not only popular in the Peranakan Chinese shophouses
of the Straits Eclectic style but they are also used by the Malays to decorate
their main stairs. In the shophouses, the ceramic tiles are usually placed
on walls below the front windows on the ground floor facing the street. Flowers
and geometrical designs are usually painted on the tiles. Furthermore, coloured
floor tiles made of terra-cotta are commonly seen in the Straits Eclectic
style, particularly in the verandahed walkway and inside the shophouses.
In Penang, we may see examples
of the Straits Eclectic style along a number of major roads including Magazine
Road, Sultan Ahmad Shah Road (Northam Road), Burmah Road, Prangin Creek and
Muntri Street.
It is unlikely that you
can still find these tiles to decorate your home today but you can download
Exotic Penang's collection of virtual tiles to wallpaper and personalise
your computer screen.
Coloured
ceramic tiles are not only popular in the Peranakan Chinese shophouses
of the Straits Eclectic style but they are also used by the Malays to decorate
their main stairs. In the shophouses, the ceramic tiles are usually placed
on walls below the front windows on the ground floor facing the street. Flowers
and geometrical designs are usually painted on the tiles. Furthermore, coloured
floor tiles made of terra-cotta are commonly seen in the Straits Eclectic
style, particularly in the verandahed walkway and inside the shophouses.
