Kerosang Brooch Pins

Vintage Straits Chinese three-piece ‘kerosang’ brooch pins set with natural diamonds weighing 10ctw in 20k.

This is a set dating from antique to vintage provenance, quite hard to pin down.

Given the mixed cuts of diamonds, largest OEC and others old transitional cuts, all very white, we have a harder time determining period.

This set is distinguished by its unique ‘rustic’ expression, with the Straits conventional flora motif tweaked ever subtly, but beautifully.

The outcome is a rustic ‘bouquet’ that is Straits Peranakan, not Art Nouveau, not Victorian, but very decorative in an Arts and Crafts refinement, which makes this set special.

A complete kerosang is made up of three pins that are linked by two short chains. Depending on attire, the pins are worn as a set or separately.

The gold work is solid and this is a good size, each brooch pin measuring 4.5cm by 2.8cm.

The diamonds are excellent, ranging in color from E-G.

Historically, a kerosang set is passed down in the family with each brooch going to one child. These separate pieces come together as a set again, at a time in the future, when the time calls for it. Sometimes one gets a set that contains three different brooches, these are the literal ties that fasten, passed down so naturally.

Of the Straits jewelry we curate, kerosangs are the foray into our heritage, yet they are also the ones we find hardest to get now. The sets that both stand out and wear timelessly do take their time coming to us, all of us.

The set weighs 32.36 grams.