Title
Large gold 'Aceh-style' belt and buckle
Year/Period
1920
Region
Straits Settlements
Object Type
Material
Accession No.
2001-03806
Collection of
Credit Line
Purchased with funds from the Lee Foundation
This gold ‘tali pinggang’ (belt) features a 'pending' (belt buckle) and has a strap with linked panels decorated with auspicious motifs. The panels and the buckle were decorated using a variety of metalworking techniques such as ‘kerenchang’ (or ‘kerenwang’, meaning ‘piece work’), figured appliqué and repoussé. This belt was worn by Nonyas (Peranakan women) on ceremonial occasions, as those for daily use were simple and relatively unadorned. It has been suggested that such belts with panels belonged to a later period, whereas earlier ceremonial belts were made with many interlocking links and rings.
