Title
Butterfly ornament
Year/Period
early 20th century
Region
Singapore
Material
Dimension
Object size: 1.0 x 1.2 x 0.5 cm
Accession No.
2016-00821
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Winson Tan in memory of the late Edward Tan TL
This is a buttefly ornament with a rose cut diamond (intan in Baba Malay) inserted at the centre. Such an ornament likely comes from a larger filigree cluster that would have been attached to a hairpin used during Peranakan weddings. Butterflies are auspicious Chinese symbols for weddings as they represent conjugal felicity.This ornament is part of a group donation from descendants of Tan Kim Seng and Tan Jiak Kim. Both were wealthy merchants, philanthropists and leaders of the local Hokkien community.
