Title
Lizard Ornament
Year/Period
early 20th century
Region
Singapore
Material
Dimension
Object size: 1.5 x 1.9 x 0.2 cm
Accession No.
2016-00843
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Winson Tan in memory of the late Edward Tan TL
This is a lizard ornament created entirely with filigree work. In Chinese tradition, the lizard is often presented in a collective known as the five poisonous creatures, together with centipedes, scorpions, toads and vipers. When depicted in Chinese art, they are viewed as protective charms to ward off danger. Such an ornament could have been originally part of a headdress or headband of a bride at the Peranakan wedding.This ornament is part of a group donation from descendants of Tan Kim Seng and Tan Jiak Kim. Both were wealthy merchants, philanthropists and leaders of the local Hokkien community.
