Title
Belt buckle
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
West Sumatra
Object Type
Dimension
Object size: 12.0 x 26.0 x 4.0 cm
Accession No.
2002-00438
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Edmond Chin
This is a silver and niello belt buckle worn by men which features foliate patterns. The layered central plaques mark the high social status of the owner and it was probably worn by men of noble classes. Jewellery has 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.
