River Merchants sculpture
Public Art: River Merchants sculpture
Sculptor: © Aw Tee Hong
Description: The bronze group features a well-known European trader, Scotsman, Alexander Laurie Johnston (seated), negotiating with a Chinese trader. The coolies are loading the sacks of produce onto the bullock cart. Point to note, the sculpture is located next to the site of Johnston’s former warehouse, the 32-storey Maybank Tower.
Date Unveiled: 2003
Location: The River Merchants sculpture can be found outside the Maybank Tower, Cavanaugh Bridge, Singapore River, Singapore.
Inscription:
THE RIVER MERCHANTS
Aw Tee Hong
Sculptor
This sculpture shows Scotsman, Alexander Laurie Johnston, prominent merchants of early Singapore, mediating between a d Chinese trader and a Malay Chief, whilst Indian and Chinese coolies load sacks onto a bullock cart – a common sight around the river as trade expanded.
Alexander Laurie Johnston & Co was set up at this spot in 1830. It was more popularly known to the merchants as Tanjong Tankap because it was the godown nearest the river’s mouth and Johnston could “catch” the merchant captains as their boats entered the river for trade. Johnston was a highly respected businessman and compassionate arbitrator for public matters. He was the first Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and introduced the five-foot way — the covered walkway, which came to characterize traditional shophouse architecture.
Tanjong Tangkap stood until 1848 when the Flint Building replaced it. This burnt down and in 1910, the offices of Whiteway Laidlaw and Co. occupied the site. In 1942, Maybank took over the building and named it Malayan Banking Chambers, renaming it Maybank Chambers in 1965. This building was demolished in 1998 to make way for the 32-story Maybank Tower that we see today.
People Of The River sculpture series: This is one of 4 sculptures in the People Of The River sculpture series commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board. The other three are – A Great Emporium, From Chettiars to Financiers and First Generation.