Three Malay Silver Child’s Modesty Plates (Caping)

Capings are heart-shaped modesty plates that were worn by infant girls and sometimes boys among the Malays, Bugis and other indigenous Southeast Asian groups as a substitute for clothing. They were worn suspended by chains from the waist. They tended to be made from different materials according to the ranks of the wearers. Gold was reserved for the nobility, silver for dignitaries, and plates made of brass, copper or coconut shell for commoners. Babies tended to wear capings once they could stand, something that was often accompanied by a simple ceremony.

The examples here are of the traditional heart shape with tubes or loops at the top to aid suspension. Each is chased with flower motifs, typical of traditional Malay silver. See Backman (2024, p. 244-245) for similar examples.

Importantly, each caping here has plenty of wear, and obvious age.

 

Above: A Malay infant, photographed in the early 20th century, wearing a silver caping.