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Three beautiful sisters...

....from a silver-gilt Indonesian pectoral measuring about. 22 x 8cm; just under 60grams.This is one of the very few Indonesian and I would appreciate any help with a more precise ID. I would also be interested in how and by whom it might have been originally worn and what the leaf-shaped pendants might symbolize....
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  • Just fantastic Betty! Congratulations! Peter

  • What a beautiful find.

    This model is very widespread across large parts of the indonesian Archipelago and the malay peninsula.

    It seems that the origin might lie somewhere in Sumatra island where they are still very much worn and made (though of lesser quality, for the brides costume)

    This construction and shape is also known among the malay people of the malaysian peninsula. (just across the melakka straits facing Sumatra)

    The origin seem to date back to the very beginning of the "Malay/Melayu" people odissey ever since they established the "Srivijaya" empire thalassocraty and ruled over much of the regional trade becoming very wealthy.

    Malay are now overwhelmingly muslim BUT they have been originally remarkedly Indianized: first converting to hinduism then later Buddhism (partly).

    It should be noted that locally this shape is considered to represent "breadfruit leaf" or "DAUN SUKUN" and which contour was in earlier pieces much more intricate, complicated and convuluted.

    I have personally suggested it could rather represent a mythological flying being  such as "garuda". And here after i explain why:

    One very peculiar pendant found exclusively among the people of Hadramaut in yemen is strikingly similar to this one, no surprise as the people of this yemeni region have long established links with the indonesian archipelago and millions of them still live scattered all over Indonesia.

    The yemeni pendant is called "Kisra" which could be translated from arabic into "prey bird". hence the "avian" connection i have made above.

    Last year while in jakarta i have visited the wonderful gold collection of the national museum, similar pieces where exhibited , in the local flea market i was offered silimarly made pendants and other jewels all of gilded silver and similar filigreed construction.

    I would place it somewhere on Sumatra island on the southern half either Palembang or lampung, possibly further north jambi or even the Minang country, but without being totally sure.

  • Congratulations, Betty, a very beautiful piece ... and thanks, Alaa, for the detailed and insightful comments 

  • Thank you Thelma and Alaa for this fantastic information and food for thought.

    I have indeed also wondered about the "Yemen connection" ... the Hadrami are indeed a fascinating people and teach ones more that there was "globalization before globalization". 

    The seller actually attributed this piece to the Minangkabau or Karo Batak. Personally I found it a very difficult piece to reach as similar shapes and filigree work appear in various regions (as you have also stated). 

    Again, thanks a lot for your help!

  • I support what Alaa says, and feel confident that this comes from Sumatra, but I can't sufficiently localise it to say just from which region.

  • In the meantime I received a confirmation from an Indonesia expert who said that it is indeed Karo Batak. 

  • That's good to know, Betty. I was more inclined towards the Minangkabau, but could not find a suitable picture to confirm, so it is good not to have to worry any further!

  • I am veru surprised by the verdict of your expert friend. The Batak ( in all their diversity) have not been known to use such intricate filigree....
    The "daun sukun" necklace is, i believe, a trademark of the Malay people.... I dont mean people from Malaysia the country but the original "Orang Melayu" ethnicity to which many a contemporary ethnicities indentify to ( mostly the Malay people of Malaysia, the Melayu from south Sumatra, the Minangkabau, the Maidailing, The bugis of Sulawesi to some extent and the very diverse cosmopolitan dwellers of the coasts from the Melakka straits up to the Moluccas passing by Borneo) all these people share very close languages and various similar customs. This necklace shape is possibly older and archeologists have found similarly built ones in hraves across Java from the early Hindu kingdoms BUT it is was constantly tied to the rise of the Srivijaya Kingdom in South Sumatra who was the ancestor of all ruling Malay principalties and sultanates in the region, hindu first then all embraced Islam by the 16th century.... As a consequence all the ethnic Malay today are muslim...which is not the case of The majority of the Bataks who were animist until quite recently.
    The elaborate filigree in your jewel is in my opinion pretty much much alien to Batak styles ( at least for major groups of them : like the Karo Batak or Toba Batak). Actually the Batak could be considered as a cultural isolate in North Sumatra : surrounded by muslim groups ( Aceh, Malay, Minang) who have all very heavy muslim influence in their jewels and weavings and have all participated in the transisland trade fever that accured in the region, thus receiving a lot of eleborate techniquesand styles.
    I am very curious to know if possible, on which basis your friend is basing his point view and would love to have any evidence he might have found and which i might have missed.
  • Alaa, - To me too the identification was a real surprise, and I suppose I should not take it on trust. What you say shows excellent sense and knowledge.

  • I agree, Alaa.

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