Treasures – Javanese Gold Jewellery (c. 14th Century)

While ancient Javanese bronze and ironwork have long elicited interest, there is a lesser-known yet equally fascinating aspect of the Indonesian island’s history: gold artefacts, including jewellery, clothing accessories, statues, coins, and containers.¹

Archaeological evidence comprising Javanese-Majapahit jewellery, unearthed during excavations in Bukit Larangan between 1926 and 1928, indicates that Javanese civilisations existed in Singapore since the 14th century. In the 2010 census of Singapore, 88,646 Singaporeans identified themselves as “Javanese”.

The Javanese have been present in Singapore since the Majapahit empire, when Singapore (then known as Tumasik) had been its vassal according to the royal court poem of Nagarakrtagama written in 1365.² Javanese mass migration continued after the arrival of the British in the early 19th century. In short, there have been four main phases of Javanese migration in Singapore: the Nusantara ancient era of Tumasik, the British colonial era, the Japanese Occupation era and the modern era of Singapore.

Gold chain

Gold, glass | Undated, East Java | National Museum of Singapore collection

Gold chain with hook in the shape of a naga with red glass beads from India. Kings and queens of Temasek might have worn such chains around their waists.³ In the early centuries of the Common Era, a civilization rose up in Indonesia that became a locus of trade, culture, and religion, the most impressive traces of which were found on the island of Java. Ancient Javanese artefacts in gold display exceptional skill and artistry and are a significant source of information on aspects of Javanese society, culture, religion, economy, and technology.⁴

Gold Conch-Shaped Ear Ornament

Gold | 13th-15th centuries, East Java | National Museum of Singapore collection

Complex jewellery with conch on one side, discus on the other, both emblems of Vishnu and kingship. These ornaments were worn in the Temasek period.⁵ It is not clear what these ornaments were used for exactly. Possibly they served as ear ornaments, or perhaps were used to decorate the hair. Sometimes they are described as finials for sashes and waist cords.

Finger Ring

Gold | 9th-10th centuries, Central Java | National Museum of Singapore collection

This ring bears a stylised inscription symbolising Sri, spouse of Vishnu, goddess of fortune and fertility.⁶

Gold Fragment Showing A Standing Figure Motif

Gold | 14th century, East Java | National Museum of Singapore collection

Cast gold ornament with elephant-headed deity wearing a sarong. Elephant-headed deities were known in both Hinduism and esoteric Buddhism, especially during the Temasek period.⁷

Ancient Gold in Southeast Asia

While there’s no gold in Singapore, the Southeast Asia region is no stranger to gold prospectors. Chinese texts such as Wang Dayuan’s “A Brief Account of Island Barbarians” or “Dao Yi Zhi Lue” (汪大渊《島夷志略》, dated 1349) and Fei Xin’s “The Overall Survey of the Star Raft” or “Xing Cha Sheng Lan” (费信《星槎勝覽》, dated 1436) cite gold as an important strategic resource for Southeast Asia. The texts mention that the seats for nobility in the kingdom of Chenla (真臘, now parts of Cambodia and Laos) were made of gold; that everyone used gold tea trays, as well as plates and cups made of gold; that the royal cart for the sovereign was made of gold; and that gold was accepted as a medium of exchange.⁸

Not only do these objects display exceptional craftsmanship, they also provide a significant source of information on Javanese society, culture, religion, economy, technology, and art from the 1st century BC to 1500.

History of Singapore

Singapore’s history is a journey from ancient settlement to modern metropolis. Initially known as Temasek, it was a 14th-century trading post, later falling under the influence of various empires. Sir Stamford Raffles established a British trading post in 1819, transforming the island into a thriving port. Post-World War II, Singapore gained self-governance and eventually independence, first as part of Malaysia and then as a sovereign nation in 1965. 

The Singapore Treasures series focuses on the artefacts, relics and key monuments and moments that shaped this young nation. It is divided into four main parts.

• Pre-colonial before 1819
• British Colonial Rule (1819-1942), Japanese Occupation (1942-1945) and Post-War (1945-1955)
• Self government (1955-1963) and merger with Malaysia (1963-1965)
• Independence since 1965

Treasures – Revere Bell (1843)

National Treasure – Daguerreotype of Boat Quay and Singapore River from Government Hill (1844)

Treasures – Artefacts of Lee Kuan Yew (c. 1950s)

Singapore’s First Airport – Kallang Airport (1937-1955)

Lest We Forget – Sook Ching Massacre (18 Feb – 4 Mar 1942)

Lest We Forget – Fall of Singapore (15 Feb 1942)

Treasures – Presentation Cup to William Farquhar (1823)

Treasures – National Day Rally Rostrum from National Theatre (c. 1970s)

Chasing Dragons (c. 1900s)

Coolies that Moved the Nation (c. 1900s)

Treasures – Straits Chinese Panel Belt (c. mid 20th century)

National Treasure – Portrait of Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham (1904)

Treasures – Silver Epergne for William Farquhar (c. 1823)

Treasures – Portrait of Sir Stamford Raffles (1912)

National Treasure – Mace of the City of Singapore (1953)

Malaysia Day 1963

National Treasure – Majapahit Armlet and Earrings (c. 14th century)

National Treasure – Singapore Stone (c. 14th century)

Declaration of Independence

Footnotes:

1. According to ancient Javanese inscriptions from the 9th to 10th century CE, there were two types of jewellery artisans. The first category lived within the palace compound and made ornaments solely for the royal family. The second category fulfilled village commissions, with the ring makers (pasisim in Old Javanese) considered a special class of jeweller. This is because gold rings with auspicious inscriptions (simsim prasada mas in Old Javanese) may also have been used as “special purpose” currency for temple donations and ritual offerings. This may have been the case for ancient Temasek. https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-17/issue-3/oct-dec-2021/ancientgold/ ↩︎
2. The verse of Nagarakrtagama in Kawi that identifies Tumasik as part of the Javanese-Majapahit kingdom (I Ketut Riana, Kakawin Desa Warnnana Uthawi Nagara Krtagama: Masa Keemasan Majapahit (Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kompas, 2009, 99), can be translated as follows: “In the territory of Pahang, the main places are Hujung and Medini, Lengkasuka and Sai as well as Kelanten and Tringgano, Nasor, Paka, Muwar, Dungun, Tumasik as Sang Hyang Hujung, Kelang, Keda, Jere, Kanjap, and Niran, the whole region as a group”.
   Nagarakrtagama, also known as Desawarnana, is an old Javanese eulogy to the Majapahit King Rajasanagara (known informally as Hayam Wuruk) written by the Superintendent of Buddhist Affairs (Dharmadhyaksa Kasogatan), whose pen-name was Mpu Prapanca, in 1365 during the reign of Hayam Wuruk (1330-1367). Hayam Wuruk had wanted to conquer all of Nusantara under the Majapahit kingdom (Hadi Sidomulyo and Nigel Bullough, Napak Tilas Perjalanan[Napak Tilas Travel] (Jakarta: Wedatama, 2007, 3) https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/holding-area/chapters-on-asia-2017-2018/ethnohistory-singaporean-javanese-diaspora-identity-roots/ ↩︎
3. Museum Information Card, Aug 2025 ↩︎
4. https://macmillan.yale.edu/southeast-asia/old-javanese-gold-hunter-thompson-collection ↩︎
5. This very fine example of a conch (shankha) ornament is of solid gold. It has been cast and further decorated with exceptionally fine gold bead applique work. The ornament comprises a conch emblem, two highly decorated hinged sides, a decorated backing plate shaped as a discus, and a hinge mechanism which still works very well, allowing the ornament to open and close. It is not clear what these ornaments were used for exactly. Possibly they served as ear ornaments, or perhaps were used to decorate the hair. Sometimes they are described as finials for sashes and waist cords. The conch and the discus are emblems of Vishnu, among the most auspicious of the Hindu deities. https://www.michaelbackmanltd.com/archived_objects/gold-conch-shaped-ear-ornament-east-java-indonesia-14th-15th-century/ ↩︎
6. Museum Information Card, Aug 2025 ↩︎
7. Museum Information Card, Aug 2025 ↩︎
8. https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-17/issue-3/oct-dec-2021/ancientgold/ ↩︎