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 volume shows the dual influences of tradition and change found in its architecture and its decorative arts. Architectural legacies of the Brookes days still coexist with Iban and Bidayuh longhouses, Malay villages and Chinese shophouses, and this book offers 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.
