Title
Set of brooches
Year/Period
Early-mid 20th century
Region
Straits Settlements
Dimension
Object size: 5.0 x 5.0 x 1.2 cm
Accession No.
2002-00465
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 come in groups of three. This kerosang is known as 'kerosang rantay' (rantay being the Baba Malay word for chain), as the three gold brooches are joined by chains. Each of the brooches features the initial G, which represents the family name, Goh. The idea of using surname initials in jewellery as motifs was borrowed from the European nobility.
