Title
Headdress finial
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th centuries
Region
Straits Settlements or Indonesia
Object Type
Dimension
Object size: L 4 x W 2.5
Accession No.
1997-04138
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ng
This hat finial adorns the top of the headdress that would have been worn by a Peranakan Chinese bridegroom. Hat finials were worn by the officials in Qing court in China as an indication of rank and subsequently adopted by the Peranakans as part of the headdress. However, laws on the appropriate materials for the respective official ranks in Qing court were disregarded as rank was of no importance to the Peranakans in Straits Settlements. Peranakan hat finials could be made of filigree, such as this example, or gold with studded diamonds. Peranakan wedding outfits were elaborate; different accessories and outfits were required for the 12-day traditional Peranakan wedding ceremony.
