My friend, Euvah, who used to live in Singapore posted about this place while she was here. I had heard about it previously and knew I needed to go before we left Singapore but kept forgetting. Until my friend, Jennifer, said she wanted to buy us one of their nativities for Christmas and asked when we could go. We ended up buying each other a nativity for Christmas. It will be a special treasure that reminds us of our special friendship no matter where we happen to live in this world.
Mr. Tay was just as my friend Euvah said he would be. Glad to see us. Glad to share his passion and expertise with us and Jennifer’s young boys. Glad to share the history of his small factory. He made us feel so welcome.
The wine bottle was used for their rolling pin. Very clever!!
Mr. Tay told us that his factory has been in his family for four generations. He and his brother or maybe brothers run it now. They mainly make joss sticks to be burned before idols during certain Chinese festivals but since the 80′s when restrictions were made on the size of them, business has decreased. They used to be able to make them very tall, I think he said 10 feet, which he said would bring in large sums of money. Now they are restricted to 5 feet (I think), floor to top. I’m told that the restriction was due to the taller ones causing too much smoke/air pollution.
The tall metal pole in the center of the above image is how tall they used to be able to be able to make the joss sticks. They would use the length of their shop floor to make it.
With the restrictions in size of joss sticks and the decrease in cash flow, they began making other items like nativities and various Chinese and Singapore touristy figurines. I was so happy to find this phoenix and dragon that they had made. The dragon symbolizes protection, stability and strength (male), and the phoenix represents beauty, elegance and flair (female). Mr. Tay even explained to me that the dragon can only have 4 claws. 5 claws are only allowed to be made for emperor’s and there are no more of them, therefore you will not find dragons with 5 claws. Interesting. I’m fine with “my dragon” only having 4 claws. I can deal with being a commoner. 
Plus you would never see the elite dragon and phoenix giving each other a high five. Only commoners would do such a thing.
The next generation of Tay’s is not really interested in taking it over and since it’s not a huge money maker, Mr. Tay says this will be the last generation to run the business. It’s so very sad but a sign of the times I suppose. I’m thrilled that we were able to get over there and get some of their handmade treasures before we leave Singapore and before they’re just not available anymore.
Note: If you want a nativity, they are custom order only and personalized with your family name and such. They take about 1 month to complete, longer during CNY. Plan ahead!
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Jennifer’s husband and my husband work together so they rode to work together in their car leaving the girls our car. It was an easy drive out. There is parking along the street right around the shop but they were all full. We parked in an HDB parking lot just behind the shop and walked a short distance to get there.
My mother never used anything but a wine bottle for a rolling pin. The lid was so tight it wouldn’t come off.