Recreating the Young Singapore of the Old Times

The statues near the Asian Civilizations Museum depict two merchants that are of distinct nationalities. In the sculptures, these merchants are shown to be negotiating prices over a wide assortment of products. There are also statues of two coolies or laborers, who are seen assisting the operations, by holding a weighing scale and measuring the weights of the goods transacted. The weighing scale that the two labourers are holding is very traditional. It is called ‘daching.’

These sculptures vividly portray a typical scene in the vicinity of Singapore River, when the country was at its nascent stage of development, with a bustling port besides the river serving as the business hub. The sculpture is titled as ‘A Great Emporium.