Specifications

• length: 6,2 cm
• Material: gilded silver
• Position: 
• Gender: 
• Indigenous name: subang
• Price realised: € 550,- hp

Provenance

De Zwaan, Amsterdam 17-11-2020, lot 3314.

Publications

Wentholt, Arnold (2013), ‘Ear ornaments from South Sulawesi’ in Francine Brinkgreve & David Stuart-Fox (eds.) Living with Indonesian Art, 250.

Additional information

These ornaments came in countless variations and were traditionally donned by women of the local Bugis or Makassarese elite. It shows the influence from Minangkabau precious metal smiths. Usually these ‘gold’ ornaments were actually made with a high silver content and stained with alum, salpetre and tamarind in various processes to give the ornament a darker appearance.

Photo credits

De Zwaan, Amsterdam