Crafted with the lost-wax method using brass from upcycled bullet shells, the set of Gelugor Earrings is part of our Bekas Bara Terengganu series.

During our time in the workshop, we observed the meticulous process of making miniature versions of the Bekas Bara Besar Terengganu—a 1940s incense holder regarded as one of the finest examples of brassware in Terengganu. 

The bekas bara is richly ornamented, and the artisans’ work resembled the act of accessorising a body from head to toe. When we saw its many components laid out before the challenging process of assembly (as brass pieces are difficult to join without visible seams), we were struck by the beauty of these fragments.

From this impression, the elements are reimagined as pendants for necklaces and earrings. Seen outside the context of the fully assembled bekas bara, these components reveal an unexpected charm—less about polished grandeur and more about the character of work-in-progress.