Buckles

Title
Buckles
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
Java
Dimension
refer to parts
Accession No.
2002-00612
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Edmond Chin

This is a set of a sliver gilt buckle called ‘timang’ and its matching attachment, ‘lerep’. These buckles were worn by upper class men and are set with small Borneo diamonds and glass. Accessories have many different functions in island Southeast Asia, for example it was used to indicate social positions, to symbolise the importance of the social relationship between the giver and the receiver during gift exchanges, and to serve as miniature religious objects.