Unusual Colonial Brunei Malay Silver Cruet Set

This is the first time we have encountered a silver cruet set made for the European market by a Malay Brunei silversmith. It comprises a pepper shaker, a salt shaker, a mustard ‘boat’ and a mustard spoon, all in silver. (Brunei is a small Malay sultanate on the island of Borneo.)

Each piece has a maker’s mark stamped to the base ‘AW’ (or the reverse in the vase of the spoon), and what appears to be a faux hallmark.

The two shakers are of tapering, octagonal form and have been delicately engraved with petal motifs typical of early 20th century Brunei silverwork.

The mustard boat has been engraved with the scrolling bunga air muleh (water flower plant) motif also typical of Brunei silverwork. The capital of the tiny sultanate, Bandar Seri Bagawan, is next to and, due to stilted housing, over a large river in which bunga air muleh grows.

The handle of the spoon is engraved with tiny flower motifs.

Malay silversmiths in Brunei remained particularly active into the 20^th century, whereas Malay silversmithing on Peninsula Malaysia had largely died out by then. Most Brunei silversmiths were concentrated in the villages Kampung Sungai Kadayan and Kampung Pandai Besi, which as suggested by its Malay name, is where many skilled makers of handicrafts were based, and was not far from the Sultan’s palace.

The set here is in fine condition.