Title
Set of brooches
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th centuries
Region
Singapore or Malacca
Object Type
Dimension
refer to parts
Accession No.
2002-00541
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Edmond Chin
Such brooches, known as 'kerosang', were worn by Peranakan women as fasteners on blouses and usually comes in sets of three. This insect-shaped central brooch is accompanied by a pair of circlets. This style, more popular in Malacca and Singapore, is known as the 'kerosang Melaka', which consist of the larger central brooch ('kerosang ibu' or ‘mother’) and two smaller brooches ('kerosang anak' or ‘child’). The origin of the kerosang is uncertain, although it has been suggested that kerosang came from the Malays, who call them 'kerongsang'. Kerosang were worn by ladies in island Southeast Asia as well as mixed heritage communities such as the Peranakan Chinese.
