Seven Silver-Gilt Key Holders
Peranakan Chinese Community, Java, Indonesia, circa 1920
length: each is approx. 8 cm
Keys are suspended from the rings of each of these key holders which are then designed to hook over a belt.
They were worn by male members of Java's peranakan Chinese community - local Chinese who were more
assimilated than more recent arrivals. Each key holder has been fabricated by a local Chinese silversmith in silver
with many small pieces of silver soldered onto the front to form designs traditional to Chinese tastes - fish,
humming birds, the Immortals, and so on. This sort of applique work is typical of peranakan Chinese silver work.
Each pieces is stamped 'Java' on the reverse.
Inventory no.: 300
Peranakan Chinese Community, Java, Indonesia, circa 1920
length: each is approx. 8 cm
Keys are suspended from the rings of each of these key holders which are then designed to hook over a belt.
They were worn by male members of Java's peranakan Chinese community - local Chinese who were more
assimilated than more recent arrivals. Each key holder has been fabricated by a local Chinese silversmith in silver
with many small pieces of silver soldered onto the front to form designs traditional to Chinese tastes - fish,
humming birds, the Immortals, and so on. This sort of applique work is typical of peranakan Chinese silver work.
Each pieces is stamped 'Java' on the reverse.
Inventory no.: 300
