Monday 12 November 2012

Accoutrements in silver...

Silver and to a lesser extent, gold; had been a precious metal (logam mulia) of choice when it came to the construction of the ampilan and ceremonial vessels for the court and princely dalems in Central Java.

The usual examples are the paidon or small spittoon, tempolong/kecohan or large spittoon, sirih set or pakinangan and the offering trays and bowls (bokor). For most people and the lesser nobility, these vessels would be in brass and for the senior princes and the ruler, they would be in silver and gold.

Here are a few samples of uncommon vessels in silver from noble houses...


Left to right:
A encased tea set, a sirih finger bowl and a large ceremonial bokor (offering bowl)

A very rare and important silver ceremonial tea set from a noble house in Surakarta, 19th century.




Personally, I have never encountered a similar set that is from a Javanese princely house and from the make and style, this is made in Java with Chinese, European and local influences.

Drawing a comparision to the palanquins at the Surakarta court where the construction and style is essentially Javanese but much of the decoration and painting depicts Chinese styled elements.

This possibly unique tea set was an accoutrement to the other upacara utensils, notably the sirih sets in the late 18th - early 19th century princely dalem, but not for regular use or as tea service but largely reserved in a more rigid ceremonial settting.