These ‘kerosang’ (‘brooches’) with floral and leaf designs and studded with diamonds, were worn by ladies of various ethnic groups in island Southeast Asia, as well as in mixed heritage communities such as the Peranakans. They were used as fasteners on blouses and usually come in groups of three. The origin of this type of brooches is uncertain, although it has been suggested that kerosang came from the Malays, who call them ‘kerongsang’.
