In the 19th century Dalmatia was a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic, situated mostly in modern Croatia and spreading between the island of Rab in the north west and the bay of Kotor in Montenegro in the south east. The traditional jewellery shows traces of the many cultures which influenced the region, particularly Italy and the Ottoman Empire.

Dalmatian goldsmiths were famous throughout the Balkans for their fine work. They lived in cities such as Dubrovnik, and specialised in gilding and filigree. Many pieces of traditional jewellery are made of copper alloy, plated in silver and then gilded, like this clasp. It was worn on the breast to fasten a waistcoat or jacket.

A young woman wore it for the first time after she became engaged, when she went to church to hear the banns read. It formed part of the traditional dowry jewellery which men were expected to give their brides in the Konavle region south of Dubrovnik.