Antique Relics at Bukit Arang Para, Kuala Kangsar
Who would have thought there are valuable antique relics at Bukit Arang Para, Kuala Kangsar? Most locals in the nearby village, Kampung Ketior Luar, are also unaware of the existence of these antique relics that have been left there for hundreds of years to this day. Continue reading to get information regarding these antique relics.
Original Victorian parlor stove circa found in the forests of Kuala Kangsar
A few years ago, our fellow comrade from orangperak.com, Lordman Kerol, along with his hiking partners, climbed Bukit Arang Para located in Kuala Kangsar. A brief introduction to our friends: they are a group that searches for old treasures left abandoned in forests, not only in Perak but throughout the states in Malaysia.
antique old liquor bottle
What they were looking for at Bukit Arang Para were old treasures said to be related to the British Colonial era, which are unknown to many people. Even the villagers in the area are unaware of the existence of any relics at Bukit Arang Para. For the loyal readers of orangperak.com, the relics found in the area are:
- foundation site for a building structure
- a water tank
- several antique liquor bottles
- an antique Victorian parlor stove circa from around 1890 to 1900
fragments of water pipes
What is interesting here is the Victorian parlor stove circa antique. It is known that the furnace functioned to burn wood into charcoal and served as a heater. Besides being a source of light at night, it was also the only heater for those on the hill to ward off the cold silence of the night.
Original Victorian parlor stove circa found in the forests of Kuala Kangsar
The words 'Emperor N°2' (number 2) are inscribed on the body of the furnace, which may be a model number from a release by its manufacturer. It is not possible to identify which company produced this antique furnace as it is not recorded on any part of this valuable historical relic for reference.
old water tank
Based on the design features and carvings on this unique furnace body, it is believed that this Victorian parlor stove circa was produced between 1890 and 1900 by a company in France or Britain. Its size is quite large, with a width of 65 cm, a depth of 55 cm, and a height of 92 cm, and it is extremely heavy, making it quite impossible for anyone visiting to carry it back down using human strength alone while just hiking in the area. A little extra information for you loyal readers of orangperak.com who want to know a bit about what the Victorian era is. For your information, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from June 20, 1837, until her death on January 22, 1901, in the history of the United Kingdom.
replica of a Victorian parlor stove circa
For the information of loyal orangperak.com readers, the last known auction for a replica of this Victorian parlor stove circa was sold for $460 AUD, equivalent to around RM1,500, in Australia on September 20, 2015. Just imagine the price of an original Victorian parlor stove circa in good condition compared to that replica. Interestingly, this valuable original historical relic for antique collectors exists at Bukit Arang Para and has been left abandoned to the passage of time.
replica of a Victorian parlor stove circa auctioned
Lordman Kerol himself once called the museum to ask various questions regarding the relics they found on Bukit Arang Para, but no answer was given by the authorities, possibly because there are no records of it. They also tried to contact the National Heritage Department to ask about this, but sadly, the answer given was 'will be informed later,' and after waiting for years, there is still no information.
foundation site possibly for building a bungalow
The question remains: who should be consulted to report these valuable relics found on Perak soil? Private researchers like them should be praised and supported, and they should not be left to work alone. Encourage them to continue their research to find treasures still hidden in the forests of Malaysia.
image credit and storytelling by Lordman Kerol
Congratulations and keep researching, friends!
