This pair of hairpins is known as flower hairpins or ‘bunga’. They have terminals in the shape of a spatula and the designs are encrusted with turquoise stones. One of this hairpin was usually worn with two other ‘ear digger’ hairpins, otherwise referred to as the coffin nail. These were plain in their design with large rounded knobs at the top. These three hairpins were used to tie a Nonya’s hair up into a tightly coiled bun known as a ‘sanggul’. This was worn high up near the top of the head and was wound very tightly. The two ‘ear digger’ hairpins were worn at an angle to each other with the hair wound around them while the flower hairpin was largely ornamental in purpose. From the 1930s, younger generations of Peranakan women started to crop their long hairs and keep short permed bobs that were fashionable then. Hence, the hairpin style began to go out of fashion.
