This hand-sculptured figurine of an ancient Chinese warrior carrying an olden days water carrier is made of cinnamon wood powder added with water to form a dough. This material is very flexible and can be rolled, pressed and shaped without falling apart. Then after drying, it has been hand-painted with a coating that gives a wood stain outlook.
Length 20 cm
Width 10 cm
Height 28 cm
Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Albert Tay Guan Heng
- Ceramicist
- Singapore, Singapore
- Master Artisan
Contact
Mandarin, English
Hours:
Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 18:00
Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 18:00
Phone:
+65 64541252
+65 64541252
Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Joss stick maker
- • Albert is the fourth generation to work on this craft
- • He began to work in the family business at nine years old
- • It is an ephemeral craft: the joss sticks he makes are burnt during religious ceremonies
Today, Albert Tay Guan Heng is the last joss stick craftsmen of Singapore. His business, Tay Guan Heng, was founded in the 1930s and is a family-run business which started making mosquito coils from wood clay, a technique the family learnt from their Teochew hometown back in China. He inherited his skills from his father and grandfather, learning by watching them – like his seven brothers. Now, at 63 years old, Albert keeps on working every day on his craft with one of his older brothers, diversifying his offer with Western influences. The objects are made of cinnamon tree wood mixed with water which makes a paste that is being carved in dragons, deities and other Chinese Taoist symbols. The drying part takes many days and is sometimes a bit arduous due to the heavy rains in Singapore.
Read the full interviewWorks
Photo: Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Ancient Chinese Warrior
Photo: Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Piggy Mask
This is a hanging mask of a pig face character from the Chinese classic novel "Journey to the West” whose quest was to collect Buddhist Scriptures. This mask was hand crafted and made from wood clay. It was then hand painted with five layers of varnish to achieve a glossy outlook.
Length 66 cm
Width 13 cm
Height 43 cm
Photo: Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Giant Joss Sticks no. 1
These tall colourful joss sticks, made of sawdust and wood clay, are meant for Taoist ceremonial festivals. They are auctioned during the celebrations to fund the temples’ maintenance. Eventually, devotees light up the joss sticks and pray to the Taoist god during the ceremony.
Length 8 cm
Width 8 cm
Height 80 cm
Diameter 8 cm
Photo: Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Giant Joss Sticks no. 2
These tall colourful joss sticks, made of sawdust and wood clay, are meant for Taoist ceremonial festivals. They are auctioned during the celebrations to fund the temples’ maintenance. Eventually, devotees light up the joss sticks and pray to the Taoist god during the ceremony.
Length 8 cm
Width 8 cm
Height 80 cm
Diameter 8 cm
Photo: Nicky Loh © Michelangelo Foundation
Giant Joss Sticks no. 3
These tall colourful joss sticks, made of sawdust and wood clay, are meant for Taoist ceremonial festivals. They are auctioned during the celebrations to fund the temples’ maintenance. Eventually, devotees will light up the joss sticks and pray to the Taoist god during the ceremony.
Length 8 cm
Width 8 cm
Height 80 cm
Diameter 8 cm
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