Hong Kong Builder
SINGAPORE'S LATEST
INDUSTRY
(Reproduced from The Singapore Sunday Tribune)
5
11
Portrait Busts of Malay Bride and Bridegroom sent to the San Francisco Exposition
A new industry has come to Malaya-one that will play an important part not only in enhancing the effect and beauty of modern architecture but, what is more important, in perpetuating the march of progress in this city.
Yesterday, I visited a factory in a secluded spot off Thomson Road where I saw busts of typical Malays (men and women) being prepared for the Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco.
The factory fills a long-felt want; for some consider- able time, it was felt that monuments should be erected to the memory of those pioneers who did all the spade work in the development of Singapore.
Difficulty of getting skilled hands locally must have been the direct cause of preventing monuments being erected in Singapore. It is, of course, possible to have monuments made in England or in Shanghai, but it is desirable, if care is to be given to details, for a local firm I saw, too, life-sized models of a Malay bridal pair, of sculptors to be entrusted with the work, so that sup- intended for the same Exposition.
Mr. Alec W. Wagstaff, who hails from a family of sculptors, was just putting the finishing touches to the head of a typical Malay bride when I called on him.
His factory is working overtime, he told me, and one of his biggest jobs is to produce a set of five panels for the new Supreme Court in Singapore.
These frieze panels will perpetuate Sir Stamford Raffles' negotiations with the original settlers of the island we now call Singapore, will depict the many indus- tries that are indigenous to the people of this country.
Intended for the Supreme Court also are three Court of Arms-the Royal Court of Arms, and those of Singa- pore and Malaya, the production of which calls for con- siderable skill.
ervision may be made.
Mr. Wagstaff's factory also handles the manufacture of ornamental iron work, and at present, it is turning out iron railings for the Tungku Mahkota's new residence in Johore.
Order has also been placed with the factory for some bronze work for Sultan Sir Ibrahim's new Istana in Pasir Plangi, Johore.
Assisted by a staff of highly skilled workmen, all Chinese, Mr. Wagstaff has the only factory of its kind in Singapore. He does the sculptoring work himself.
Pottery clay, obtained locally, is used for making models which are then cast in rapid-hardening plaster, moulds being made for the purpose of re-casting in any specified metal-cast iron, bronze, etc.
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