Hair ornament exhumed from Bukit Brown Cemetery, peg no. 459

This hair ornament and one silver bracelet were found in an unclaimed grave with peg no. 459 at Bukit Brown Cemetery in Singapore. According to the grave marking, it belonged to Mrs. 王, nee 卓. Her year of death is only identified as 丙午年, which is based on a sixty-year cycle that may refer to the years 1966, 1906, or 1846.The practice of burying everyday objects and luxurious items with the deceased originated in ancient China, and continued to be observed by the Straits Chinese communities. They were meant for use by the deceased in the afterlife, and also served as statements of the family’s rank and status.

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A silver bracelet exhumed from Bukit Brown Cemetery, peg no. 459

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