Title
Pointer
Year/Period
Early to mid 20th century
Region
Singapore
Material
Bamboo
Technique
Carved
Dimension
Object size: 12.5 x 0.8 cm
Accession No.
1994-05237
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Ismail Ahmad Ani
NLB Type
Woodcarving
This carved bamboo pointer is also known as 'petunjuk' in Malay. It is used by children to point to verses while learning to read or recite the Qur'an (mengaji), a vital aspect of a Muslim child's religious education. A religious teacher would conduct classes usually attended by children living in the same kampung or in Singapore in the same housing estate. Today, children would use a 'lidi', the vein of a coconut frond.
