A SUMATRAN SILVER AND NIELLO MAN BELT BUCKLE, PENDINGLate 19th - early 20th century22,5 x 12 cm Of ogival form with jagged edges and pointed sides, richly decorated with floral motifs and geometric design.Provenance: Acquired before 1975.Belt buckles like this were worn with textile belts on ceremonial occasions. Their size and intricacy of decoration are emblems of the rank of the owner.A very similar belt buckle is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (inv. IS.72-1975), others are in the Power House Museum (39A 8.1.2007) and in the Asian Civilisation museum in Singapore (inv. 1992-00578); see also B. Carpenter, Ethnic Jewellery from Indonesia. Continuity and Evolution, Singapore 2012, p. 115.