This is a box that was used for packaging stainless steel cutlery from Viners Ltd Sheffield, which was established in United Kingdom in 1901. It belonged to a Peranakan (Straits Chinese) household at Dublin Road, which was headed by Mr. Koh Beng Swee, a third generation Peranakan. Born in 1924 at Chin Swee Road, Koh was a Hokkien Peranakan. He was enrolled in the Anglo-Chinese School from 1931 to 1941. Koh worked as an architectural draughtsman in the Architectural Department of the City Council in 1950. He was then transferred to the Engineering/Design Branch of the Public Works Department. He was part of the team that designed the National Library at Bras Basah. Though the Peranakans followed Chinese traditions and practised them elaborately, the Babas (males), in particular, were anglicised and adopted Western lifestyles. This was reflected in their consumption habits, as many imported lifestyle products from the West.Though the Peranakans followed Chinese traditions and practised them elaborately, the Babas (males) in particular were anglicized and adopted Western lifestyles. This was reflected in their consumption habits, as many imported lifestyle products from the West.
