This is a 1950s photograph of an old Malay lady with paddy shoots in her hands, helping her family with rice planting at the paddy field. Another female worker is partially seen in the picture. Both are dressed in traditional Malay attire, standing in the paddy field with skirts rolled up to knee-length. The word "paddy" is derived from the Malay word padi, rice plant. Digitised from an album page containing five photographs described collectively as "Life in a Paddy field". Part of a compiled album, with a label : "PHOTOGRAPHS BY : R.K. TYERS. Staff STRAITS STEAMSHIP CO., LTD. SINGAPORE." Title transcribed from album. Date of creation estimated.

Credit Line

From the Lee Kip Lin Collection. All rights reserved. Lee Kip Lin and National Library Board, Singapore 2009.

Subjects

• Ethnic Communities
• Commerce and Industry
• Women rice workers--Photographs
• Rice--Planting--Photographs