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New Straits Times
4 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Century-old goldsmithing tools, Sei whale skeleton to go on display in city museums
KUCHING: A set of century-old traditional equipment once used by one of the city's most prominent goldsmiths could soon be added to the list of new exhibits in one of the museums in the state capital here. Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Hamzah said they could go on display as new exhibits at the Borneo Cultures Museum or the Natural History Museum after the documentation process had been completed. The equipment, which comprised a work station, hand tools and a blowtorch with a mini gas cylinder, were donated to the Sarawak Museum Department by Teo Keng Boon, the grandson of the esteemed goldsmith Teo Chai Seng. The equipment and tools were those normally used to convert gold bars into plates and wires, which were subsequently fashioned into jewellery. Teo even donated the signboard of his grandfather's shop, Chop Swee Hin. The shop was originally located at No. 11, Jalan Rock, until 1950, before it shifted to No. 8, China Street in the city centre on Oct 18, 1988. The business closed down permanently on Nov 29, 2005. Another item that will be exhibited is the skeleton of a 13-metre Sei whale that the Museum Department managed to obtain in November last year. The skeleton is from the remains of a whale found floating off the waters of Pulau Seduku near Batang Luparin in Sri Aman Division in Nov 19 last year. The remains subsequently got trapped in the structure of a bridge under construction near the Triso ferry terminal. The carcass was retrieved by a team from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) on Nov 22 last year for study. DNA testing confirmed that it was a Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), marking the first time the species was found in Sarawak waters. Now part of the museum's zoology collection, it is the largest whale specimen ever obtained and holds significant value for research and exhibition, Karim said. He added that the skeleton would be exhibited at the Natural History Museum, or generally known to locals as "the old museum". At a press conference after the post Sarawak Heritage Council meeting today, Karim said the Borneo Cultures Museum, built at the cost of RM323 million, remained a prominent state attraction. The "new museum", he said, had drawn more than 1.35 million visitors since its opening in March 2022. He said up to June 16, there were a total of 117,095 visitors recorded in the museum. Among the notable visitors were Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who visited the museum twice in November last year and in February this year; Ugandan Energy and Minerals Minister Ruth Nankabirwa and her delegation; the Ambassador of Norway to Malaysia Morten Paulsen, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Malaysia Chantal Moser, and a delegation from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Karim said the Cultures Museum had generated more than RM9.42 million in ticket sales since its opening in 2022. "Beyond ticketing, the rental of facilities such as the auditorium, function room, temporary exhibition room and arts & crafts gallery has also drawn strong interest, contributing an additional RM 334,000.00 in revenue," he added. "This strong response highlights the Cultures Museum's growing reputation as a premier venue for events, exhibitions and public engagement. "This year, the museum has generated RM 9,763,801.00 in revenue up to May 31."
Hype Malaysia
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
2 New Drops From Massensa Lab & MB&F Are Giving Next-Level Luxury
Just when we thought we'd seen it all in the world of watches, two new timepieces turn our heads. From an artistic creation with levitating components, to a piece born of a stellar collaboration – here are two new drops you need to get on your wrist now! MB&F SP One MB&F has unveiled SP One, the inaugural release in its newly introduced 'Special Projects' collection. As the brand nears its 20th anniversary, it reflects on its unconventional approach — driven purely by creativity rather than business plans or market research. This philosophy has inspired the independent watch brand to revisit past sketches, turning unrealised intuitions into boundary-pushing timepieces. Somewhere between its Horological Machines and Legacy Machines, the SP One embraces an undefinable aesthetic. It highlights three levitating elements spanning the barrel, balance wheel and dials, all of which appear to 'float' within the case. Encased in a 38mm pebble-like case, the SP One exudes understated elegance with a bezel-free design and detached lugs. Despite being MB&F's slimmest and smallest timepiece to date, the watch stays true to the brand's three-dimensional architecture and visionary craftsmanship. Its in-house movement is built around the fundamental components of a mechanical watch, featuring a signature balance wheel at 2 o'clock, a tilted dial showcasing that brand's expertise in conical gearing, as well as a manual-winding suspended barrel that delivers an impressive 72-hour power reserve. Sapphire crystals on both the front and back further enhance the illusion of levitation, making the movement appear to float within its intricately crafted framework. Available in two versions, one in 18k rose gold with an anthracite flange and a platinum variant with a sky-blue flange, both are available for US$76,000 (~RM323,038) and US$82,000 (~RM348,541), respectively. If you'd like to cop your own watch, then visit MB&F's official website. Massena LAB x Raúl Pagès Noctograph Massena LAB and independent watchmaker Raúl Pagès, who also won the first LVMH Watch Prize, have collaborated on a limited-edition Noctograph for the third time. The Noctograph, which is synonymous with the pair's priceless partnerships, has a 38.5mm case diameter that is both thin and functional. It features a simple and eye-catching dial design in a two-tone colour scheme and is housed in stainless steel. The dial's mainplate has a vertically brushed finish and is delivered in a soothing midnight blue. The dial is surrounded by a rhodium-plated chapter ring with a radial-brushed finish and a black railway track that indicates the hours and minutes without appearing cluttered. A tonal small seconds display at six o'clock, leaf-shaped hands, and a delicate Massena signature complete the dial. The M660 movement, a Swiss-made calibre with a 60-hour power reserve, is the central component of the watch. The sapphire open caseback displays the calibre, allowing the hand-chamfered plates and bridges, as well as the Côtes de Genève finishing, to be fully appreciated. The watchmaker's tortoise-shaped signature, Poinçon Pagès, also gives the complex mechanisms a distinctive look. There are only 99 units of the Massena LAB x Raúl Pagès Noctograph globally. You can save yourself a unit by pre-ordering now at Massena LAB's official website for US$2,500 (~RM10,626).
