Acehnese gold and silverwork encompasses the rich tradition of precious-metal craftsmanship in Atjeh, spanning personal adornment, weaponry, ceremonial objects, amulets, and domestic equipment. The 1928 treasure-room guide of the Batavian Society provides one of the most detailed catalogues of this tradition, with over one hundred individually numbered objects displayed in three cabinets (Kast 3, 4, and 5) all labelled “Atjeh.”
Techniques
The catalogue reveals several distinct metalworking techniques employed by Acehnese gold- and silversmiths:
Spinsbek work
Spinsbek is the most frequently mentioned technique in the Atjeh cabinets. It appears in dozens of entries, applied to rings, chains, clasps, boxes, lime containers, and even revolvers. The term refers to a distinctive style of fine, granulated or beaded metalwork — possibly related to fil granulé or granulation — in which the metal surface is covered with tiny raised beads or granules. Spinsbek was applied to both gold and silver, and was often combined with other techniques such as chasing and filigree. See Spinsbek for a full discussion.
Filigree
Filigree (filigraan) work appears on numerous gold ornaments, including chest pieces, ear buttons, brooches, and a hair needle. Acehnese filigree involved the twisting and soldering of fine gold or silver wire into elaborate lace-like patterns, often combined with set stones or enamel.
Chasing and repoussé
Chasing (gedreven werk) is mentioned on gold and silver objects of various types, including scabbard covers, belt plates, sword hilts, boxes, and candlesticks. Repoussé and chasing involved hammering the metal from the reverse side to create relief designs, then refining the details from the front with chasing tools. The Batavian Society’s collection includes chased gold scabbard covers, chased silver seals, and chased gold belt chains.
Enamel
Enamel work (geëmailleerd) appears on several objects, including the gold kopiah crown ornament (koepiah kruin-versiersel) and various brooches and modesty plates. The use of coloured enamels — often blue, green, and red — combined with gold and precious stones, is a characteristic feature of Acehnese courtly ornament.
Incrustation
Gold incrustation (met goud geïncrusteerd) is noted on several blades and rings, in which gold wire or foil was inlaid into a darker base metal (iron, copper, or silver) to create contrasting patterns. This technique was particularly common on weapon blades.
Object types
The collection demonstrates the extraordinary range of Acehnese precious-metal work:
Personal ornaments
Rings, bracelets, ankle rings, chest ornaments, necklaces, brooches, buttons, hair pins, ear buttons, and children’s jewellery — in gold, silver, and spinsbek. A remarkable pair of gold spectacles with extendable parts (gouden bril met uitschuifbare verlengstukken) was among the possessions of the Radja of Simpang Olim.
Weapons and martial equipment
Swords, sabres, lances, daggers, and kris of various types, fitted with gold and silver hilts, scabbard covers, and belt chains. Two revolvers with spinsbek decoration represent the adaptation of traditional metalworking techniques to modern firearms.
Amulets and magical objects
Amulets on chains, in boxes, and as pendants; the remarkable wonderkogels (gold bullet-amulets with human faces and diamond eyes); and a seal for stamping amulets. The prominence of amulets in the collection reflects the central role of protective magic in Acehnese daily life and warfare.
Authority objects
The nine-fold sultan’s seal (negenvoudige zegel) and the personal seal of Toekoe Moeda Ia Malim represent the material instruments of governance.
Domestic and betel equipment
Betel-lime boxes (kalkdoosje), betel boxes (sirihbak), boxes of various forms, a candlestick, bowls, and a napkin. The betel quid (sirih) was central to Acehnese social life, and the equipment for preparing and carrying it was often elaborately ornamented.
Textile ornaments
A gold-embroidered mosquito-net strip (klamboe-strook met goud geborduurd) and a woven pandan-leaf sitting mat from Seunagan.
Materials
The dominant materials are gold and silver, often used together on a single object. Gold appears in the form of sheet, wire, and filigree; silver is used both in its natural colour and gilt (verguld zilver). Stones mentioned in the catalogue include diamonds (diamantjes), rubies (robijntjes), turquoises (turkoois), and various coloured and black stones. Black coral (zwart koraal) was used for dagger grips. Ivory (ivoor) appears on kris handles and lance shafts. Spinsbek is listed as a material in its own right, alongside gold and silver.
Comparison with other traditions
The Batavian Society’s catalogue allows direct comparison between Acehnese metalwork and that of other regions. The Atjeh cabinets are notable for the predominance of spinsbek work, which is far less common in the collections from Java, Bali, Celebes, and Borneo. The Acehnese objects also display a characteristically dense, all-over surface decoration, in contrast to the more restrained or differently ornamented styles of other regions.
See Also
- Spinsbek
- Sultanszegel van Atjeh
- Wonderkogel
- Batavian Society Treasure Room Aceh Collection
- Koninklijk Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen
- Radja of Simpang Olim
- Aceh Sultanate
Source
Gids voor den bezoeker van de schatkamer, Koninklijk Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen, Batavia, 1928. Druk: Ruygrok & Co., Batavia. Cabinets 3, 4, and 5 (Atjeh).