Straits Chinese Gilded Silver Repoussed Belt Buckle

This repoussed silver buckle of scalloped ogival form is decorated a central deer figure, Daoist symbols, fish and peony flowers.

It was made for a Straits Chinese orbaba-nonya (peranakan) client, probably for use in conjunction with a wedding.

The Straits Chinese were the localised Chinese of Malacca, Penang and Singapore.

There is no maker’s mark, although it would have been made locally. The reverse is fitted with a thick, gilded silver belt hook.

There are no losses or dents. It has not been over-cleaned and so there remains some tarnishing.