Featured Straits Chinese silver-plate Nyonya Belt - Ca. 1900.

Hi,

Yes, I agree with AJ. Definitely of Peranakan style. Usually Peranakan made things of high-grade silver and gold, but the pressure to own a belt (which were predominantly worn by women) was very very high in traditional Peranakan culture. So I imagine that people bought or commissioned belts of silver, regardless of the grade of the silver, just so that they could have one.

 

Thank you, Shangas! Now that I know what to look for, I'll keep my eyes out for more

 

They're NOT easy to find. High-grade silver belts go for $1,000+. And gold ones shoot through the bloody roof. That's if you can even find them to buy them. Most of them are in private collections, or museums, or they're with their original families.

I have two belts which I inherited down my father's side of the family. That's almost the only way you can get them unless you're willing to spend an absolute bombshell on them.