Title
Boat
Year/Period
mid 20th century
Region
Singapore
Object Type
sampans
Material
Wood
Dimension
Object size: 71.5 x 113 x 377.5 cm
Accession No.
2012-00762
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mapletree Investments Pte. Ltd.
NLB Type
Woodcarving
Well into the 20th century the sampan kotak was one of the two options for those wishing to cross the Singapore River – the other being a walk across its bridges. A ride could cost anything from a duit (1/4 cent) to 1 cent in the 19th century. Literally ‘box’ boat, the squarish sampan kotak had a bench for no more than two adult passengers and was rowed standing up. Some also had sails which could be hoisted when the wind was favourable.
