1900s three-piece brooch pins set crafted in 20k.

Of Straits Chinese heritage, these ‘kerosang’ brooches were originally worn in place of buttons on traditional blousons of Peranakan culture.

The brooches were crafted to carefully pin on even soft garments.

Featherweight but very robust despite being high karat, these brooches make very clever pins.

This set is old, early 1900s, the gold is not ‘soft’ but carved deeper beyond relief etching. The underside of the carvings is equally lovely.

There is something about carving on a sheaf of gold by hand, that is not cast, that makes a set of three identical pins appear fluid and independent.

The feather motif is executed very elegantly, allowing the brooches to be pinned in any direction. The asymmetry of its stylised form works even if you pin all three brooches tangled in a bunch!

While many sets feature detachable pins, this set is inseparable.

Each pin is 4cm long and 1.8cm widest. The set is longest at 11″.

Even its Chinese hallmarks on the back are beautifully marked.

The set does not feel dated, unlike some of its genre. Those in the know will be able to distinguish a keepsake from a timepiece.