Title
Bracelet
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
Sulawesi
Dimension
Object size: 14.5 x 14.5 x 4.2 cm
Accession No.
2002-00681
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Edmond Chin
This bracelet comes from the Toraja people of Sulawesi. It is made with sheet gold pressed over a clay or resin core. The flat surface is ornamented with spiral designs, while the curved side is decorated with protrusions each mounted with a red gem. Jewellery has many different functions in island Southeast Asia, for example it was used to indicate social positions, to symbolise the importance of the social relationship between the giver and the receiver during gift exchanges, and to serve as miniature religious objects.
