BELT / ADORNMENT

This ornamentation method is Chinese and mainly practised in the regency Tangerang (Banten province in Java, Peranakan culture).

The welded metal pieces were stamped or cut out of metal, whereupon it was polished.

This method is called "Poohwa" (Chinese) or "Tratappan" (Javanese).

The "red paint" with the Chinese red dye called "Gincu" (gintjoe) replaces the red stain which was added on gold jewelry.

Especially in the West part of Java, mainly in Jakarta, this method had been used for belts and buckles, of which the bullion has a very low gold content. (Jasper: 1927:94)

Total length: 102 cm.

Dimension buckle: 10 cm x 8 cm.

Provenance: Dutch antique market.

Additional info: A similar can be found in the Tropenmuseum 

                           collection, Inv.nr.: 3934-13