Book Title: Living in Sarawak
Authors: Edric Ong – Luca Invernizzi Tettoni
ISBN: 9780500017593
Publisher: Thames and Hudson
Publication Date: 1996
Format: Hardback
Sarawak, the East Malaysian state located on the island of Borneo, has fascinated Westerners for centuries – from its days as a Raj under the Brookes dynasty and later a colony under the British Crown to today’s vibrant multi-ethnic state. This book shows the dual influences of tradition and change found in its architecture and decorative arts. Architectural legacies of the Brookes days still coexist with Iban and Bidayuh longhouses, Malay villages and Chinese shophouses, and this book includes glimpses into the interiors of private homes, from contemporary architect-designed houses to centuries-old longhouses. The decorative arts of Sarawak, including the rattan basketry of the Bidayuh, beadwork of the Orang Ulu, carving of the Malay, brassware of the Melanau and ceramics of the Chinese, have all combined with the influences of 100 years of a romantic “White Rajah” reign under the Brookes to produce a uniqueness that is typically Sarawak Style.
