Sculptures Trail along Singapore River - A Great Emporium

This sculpture depicts two merchants negotiating the prices for an array of goods, assisted by two coolies (labourers) holding up a traditional Chinese weighing scale known as the daching. This sculpture illustrates the typical scene along the Singapore River during its heyday as a bustling trading port.

The founder of modern Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles, intended Singapore to become a "great commercial emporium.


Location of this sculpture is near the Asian Civilisations Musuem and beside the "From Chettiars to Financiers" sculpture that I mentioned in earlier post.

Sculptures Trail along Singapore River-From Chettiars to Financiers

This sculpture comprises a Chettiar (Indian moneylender), an employee of a Chinese clearing house and a modern day female Simex (Singapore Stock Exchange) trader. It shows the transformation of Singapore’s financial sector from traditional money lending in the early days to the sophisticated banking services provided by financial institutions today.



The location of the sculpture is along the Singapore River and behind Asian Civilisations Museum.

Sculptures Trail along Singapore River - Cavenagh Bridge and Kucinta

Cavenagh Bridge, named after Sir Lieutenant General William Orfeur Cavenagh, the last Governor of the Straits Settlements (1859 - 1867) under British India control. It was built in 1868 and is today the oldest bridge across the Singapore River. It was the last major work of the Indian convicts based in Singapore. Now it serves as a foot-bridge for pedestrian traffic only. You can read more from source.


A very old signboard during the olden days of Singapore where cattle and horses roam around the streets. But nowadays horses are found in the zoo, turf club and polo club only.

Proof of how old this bridge is.

Located at the side of the bridge are these cat sculptures. Known as Singapura or kucinta. Kucinta (Kuchinta) a hybrid of two Malay words: Kuching (cat) and cinta (love).
The Singapura Cat a.k.a. Kucinta (Kuchinta) is regarded as Singapore's Tourism Board's mascot, although claims of it having originated from Singapore remain questionable. Read more from source to find out the real origins of the cats.


For other sky watchers, please hop over to Skywatch Blog

Sculptures Trail along Singapore River

As I walked along Singapore River, I saw more sculptures. They were very interesting.

First Generation by Chong Fah Cheong.

The sculpture of five boys jumping happily into the river just like in the past. Those days, the lifestyle was very simple and happy and no stress. The location of these sculptures is beside fullerton building and Cavenagh Bridge.

Sculptures Trail along Singapore River - The River Merchants

The River Merchant Sculpture was located infront of Maybank Tower Singapore along Singapore River. Maybank is the sponsor of these sculptures. The sculptor was Aw Tee Hong.

The sitting sculpture is one of Singapore's earliest merchants, Mr Alexander Laurie Johnston, interacting with the local merchants.


The sculpture of these coolies(workers) loading goods onto a bullock cart, a common sight during the earlier days of Singapore.