Such brooches, known in Baba Malay as “kerosang” were worn by women as fasteners on blouses. Kerosang were worn by ladies of many communities in island Southeast Asia including both indigenous, foreign and mixed heritage groups. The heart-shaped kerosang serong from Aceh was also fashionable in Penang, Malacca and Singapore. Peranakan women in Southeast Asia have been observed to favour this style of ornament, likely made popular through familial and commercial networks.This set belonged to Toh Gek Eng (1891-1980), a Peranakan lady from Pangkalan Brandan, North Sumatra. Together with her husband, Low Soek Bie (1872?-1937), who established Low Guan Bie, a rubber, rice and timber mill company, they had 14 children and lived in Kuala Simpang, Aceh. Today, Toh and her husband’s ashes are housed in the Vihara Buddha Murni Temple in Medan, Indonesia.
