Large Brunei Malay Silver Bowl and Cover (Dulang Bertutup)

This large bowl and cover is of high-grade silver and is known as a dulang bertutup (literally, ‘covered tray’). It is from the Malay people of Brunei, on the island of Borneo, and dates to the early 20th century. We are aware of only one other such vessel of this shape, size and decoration.

It would have been used to serve food at important banqueting occasions – a wedding perhaps.

The bowl widens out from a low ring foot, and the domed cover fits to the base tightly.

The base is engraved with bunga air muleh or ‘water lettuce flower’ motifs and the cover is similarly chased with such motifs, all within a large single sunflower (bunga matahari) pattern which covers the cover. A flattened spherical knob surmounts the cover. This is in the form of a fruit, perhaps an asam gulugur fruit which the Malays used in their cooking to add sourness to a dish. The top of this has been engraved with a sunflower motif.

The bunga air muleh or ‘water lettuce flower’ motif is typical of Malay silversmithing work from Brunei. Brunei’s main settlement Bandar Seri Begawan traditionally comprised wooden houses built on stilts over the fast-flowing Brunei River (Sungai Brunei) in which the water lettuce commonly is found.

Traditionally, Brunei’s Malay silversmiths resided in Kampung Sungai Kadayan and Kampung Pandai Besi, close to the Sultan of Brunei’s palace.

The dish here is in excellent condition.

This actual piece is illustrated in Backman (2024, p. 40).

 

Above: This item illustrated in Malay Silver and Gold: Courtly Splendour from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand.