Rare Antique Straits Chinese Peranakan Solid Silver Belt Buckle 'Pending/Pinding', Malaysia & Singapore c1890.

This is a rare antique Straits Chinese Peranakan solid silver belt buckle (pending/pinding), Malaysia & Singapore c.1890.

The Straits Silver is a fusion of the Chinese and Malay cultures. This was worn by the Straits Chinese (Chinese communities that settled along the Malacca Strait regions in the mid-19th century - the Malay peninsula and Singapore) as part of their official dress or at a wedding ceremony.
This belt buckle is richly decorated with embossed foliage and animals. The center with a large flowerhead, surrounded by four figures. On the top, a pair of phoenixes fenghuang. On the bottom, a pair of dragons. The fenghuang (feminine) and dragons (masculine) are often paired together as a symbol of auspiciousness. Peonies adorn the left and right of the buckle.

There are two silver marks on the reverse. the bottom mark 足银 translates as 'full silver' or pure silver, the top mark is the artisan's chop mark. Tested and the silver is at least 90% purity.
It is in excellent condition and made with thick gauge silver.

DATE: c.1890
DIMENSION: 11.8cm x 8.3cm (4 5/8" x 3 1/4")
WEIGHT: 51g
CONDITION: Excellent condition without damage. No splits and no wear holes.

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