Bricks and Mortals

Rudolfo Nolli worked in Singapore from 1921 to 1956. He was responsible for many of the sculptural reliefs on the buildings commissioned during the colonial period. Rudolf0 Nolli, whom you can see on your screen now, was the man behind the creation of the Tympanum. As there was no marble quarry in Singapore at the time, Nolli had to be very resourceful with his materials. He created a substitute, known as granolithic, or Shanghai plaster for building the stonework of building facades. Although his exact recipe was secret, the basic ingredients are white cement, crushed granite found in Singapore, pigment from natural materials and water. The term Shanghai plaster refers to the skilled Chinese artisans who fled Shanghai during the Sino-Japanese War. Their presence in Singapore proved to be very handy because they were trained in European building techniques. Nolli’s studio employed them to work on the commissions for the former Supreme Court as well as other colonial building projects. Many of the pillars in the building today were designed or built by Nolli. See if you can spot his signature style as you continue your tour. Image © Lisa Brunner Collection, Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore