Peranakan Key Holders

Basically, the Peranakan-styled key holders are made up of a broad oval clip with a ring attached to the base-end of the clip. Unlike the standard, functional metal ring which can be operated in a variety of ways to hold a bunch of keys, the Straits Chinese key holder had to be redesigned and modified to incorporate a ring attached to a broad ornately carved ornamental clip in order to satisfy the Peranakan's obsession with artifice rather than with functional requirements.

Straits silversmiths modelled the frontal side of the broad clip to include a decorative panel usually of ogival shape, and worked into it various auspicious symbols such as peonies, fishes, phoenixes, butterflies and even figure motifs executed in a combination of pierced and repoussé work (The word repoussé is French and means "pushed up").

The main ornamental panel is worked in such a way that it presents a pronounced convex surface separately crafted and then soldered on to the flat surface of the broad clip. In this way, Straits Chinese key holders have a solid, three dimensional feel about them.

There is no evidence to show that key holders were exclusively intended for Straits Nyonyas. This is because the carrying of keys was not confined to Nyonyas alone. The men used them also. However, from about the second half of the 19th century, most of the English educated Babas switched to wearing English styled costumes. This meant that they could no longer wear those silver belts made of more "masculine" designs, and the result was that key holders with those typical ornamental clips fell out of fashion.

However, the more conservative of the Baba merchants and traders who adhered to the habit of wearing the typically loose tunic with long sleeves and baggy trousers could continue to wear either silver belts or those broad leather belts. For these people, the large key holders continued to serve a useful function, since they could be clipped on to the belt.

Pictures below are the Peranakan key holders from my collection.

Peranakan key holder 1.
-Front-

Peranakan key holder 1.
-Back-

Peranakan key holder 1.
The closer look of the key holder, which were finely executed in pierced and repoussé work.

Peranakan key holder 2.
-Front-

Peranakan key holder 2.
-Back-

Peranakan key holder 2.
The closer look of the key holder, which were finely executed in pierced and repoussé work.

Peranakan key holder 3.
-Front-

Peranakan key holder 3.
-Back-

Peranakan key holder 4.
-Front-

Peranakan key holder 4.
-Back-

Peranakan key holder 5.
-Front-

Peranakan key holder 5.
-Back-

Peranakan key holder 6.
-Front-

Peranakan key holder 6.
-Back-

Peranakan key holder 7.
-Front-

Peranakan key holder 7.
-Back-

Peranakan key holder 7.
The closer look of the key holder.