Belt buckle (pending), gold, mounted with brown topaz, Perak, Malaysia, 1800–1900

Belt buckle (pending), eye-shape. Gold set with brown topaz at the centre, surrounded by a solar motif of filigree work and granules. Decorated with chased and repoussé floral motifs.

Bequeathed by E.S. Wilkinson

IS.250 to 451-1950 and IS.1 to 7-1952, came from the collection of Mr. Richard James Wilkinson (1867-1941), who was formerly Deputy Governor of the Straits Settlement (1911 to 1916) and later Governor of Sierra Leone (1916-1922). He had acquired a collection of mostly Malay silverware and goldware, niello work, arms, etc. in Singapore and the Federated Malay States, which on 23 June 1919 was lent to the Indian Section of the V&A with the possibility of later making a bequest. A second loan of Malay brasswork followed on 31 October 1921. A total of 209 pieces were finally bequeathed to the V&A on 26 October 1950 following the death of his widow, Mrs Edith Sinclair Wilkinson.

This belt buckle was worn with a sash around the waist to secure a sarong. It was for many generations the property of successive holders of the title Panglima Bukit Gantang. They were among the eight great administrative chiefs in Perak, and were the second highest ranking officials in the sultanate.

IS.312-1950