Kota Kinabalu Antique Shop Houses Rare 18th-century Borneo Gong With Dragon Motifs

KOTA KINABALU, July 19 (Bernama) -- Tucked away in a narrow lane amid the bustle of Kota Kinabalu, a small, unassuming shop houses a silent relic from a bygone era, a gong believed to be over 100 years old, possibly predating World War II.

The writer had the opportunity to meet Stella Tay and Sue Chong Hartley, close friends in their 50s who co-own the antique store, where they explained that the gong stands out for its distinctive design, unlike the more common versions seen today.

According to Tay, the remarkable piece of history originally belonged to her mother’s close friend and had been passed down through generations before the owner decided to part with it. It is now available for sale at RM35,000 to collectors interested in preserving such a piece.

“What makes this gong special is its design. It features three raised dragon heads that appear 3D (three-dimensional) on the surface. Most other gongs only have flat dragon images,” she said.

Weighing nearly 10 kg, the gong is believed to have been crafted in the Borneo islands sometime between the 18th and 19th centuries.

Tay added that the gong meets museum standards and has even attracted offers, but she hopes it will remain in Sabah before potentially being acquired by collectors from abroad.

Tay said the gong’s design, marked by strong Chinese cultural influences, particularly the dragon, a symbol of strength, honour, success, and prosperity, caught the attention of museum authorities. Measuring about 50 centimetres in diameter, the gong also features a crocodile motif along its edges.

These design elements reflect the historical migration of Chinese communities to Sabah in the 19th century, when the British North Borneo Company actively encouraged the influx of Chinese labourers into tobacco and rubber plantations, as well as the logging, trade and mining sectors.

This wave of migration eventually led to the establishment of Chinese settlements in urban centres such as Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Kudat.

Chong, meanwhile, noted that although little is known about the gong’s exact manufacturing process, her research, particularly the writings of antique collector and dealer Michael Backman, suggests it may have been made using the lost wax method, a traditional metal casting technique.

She explained that in this process, wax is first shaped into the desired form, then coated with a heat-resistant material. Once hardened, the wax is melted and drained, leaving a hollow mould that is then filled with molten metal to form the final piece.

Tay, who co-founded the antique business with Chong in 2020 at an art space before relocating to their current premises in April, believes the relic is likely the only one of its kind in Sabah that is over 100 years old.

“Most dragon motifs are flat, but this one is raised. You can actually feel the dragon heads. It also comes with a rope or chain for hanging,” she said.

In Sabah, the gong holds deep cultural significance and is strongly tied to traditional music among various ethnic communities, who view it as a symbol of unity, respect, and cultural identity.

The Kadazandusun use it in ritual ceremonies and festive gatherings; the Murut feature the gong sembilan (nine gongs) in celebrations, animistic rites and for signalling; while the Bajau include it as part of their betitik performances, which blend multiple traditional instruments.

Chong added that the gong in their possession was most likely used as a signalling tool, to summon people or convey important announcements, rather than for music. “If it were part of a musical set, there would usually be more than one gong,” she explained.

She noted that modern gongs come in various sizes and are typically played alongside other traditional instruments to create rhythmic, harmonious melodies.

Reflecting on their journey, Tay and Chong said their decision to start the business five years ago was driven by a shared passion for collecting vintage items, a way to preserve the past for younger generations while rekindling childhood memories of their own.

Tay said many young visitors to their shop, aptly named Old Soul Vintage, are often thrilled to discover the charm of these bygone treasures.

The store also offers a range of vintage collectibles, including rotary telephones, typewriters, suitcases, cast-iron irons, novels, cassette tapes and film cameras.

“Most of them have never seen these antiques before. Our collection includes pieces sourced not only from Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, but also from abroad,” she said.

The shop donates a portion of its proceeds from sales to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

-- BERNAMA