When Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) curator Theresa McCullough found a 19th-century wooden shield in storage, she was surprised to discover that its handle was in the shape of a human figure.
The carving, which shows an ancestor warrior waving a sword, is a powerful symbol meant to protect the shield's bearer.
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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 04, 2018, with the headline Of rituals and religion: Asian Civilisations Museum's latest Asian artefacts. Subscribe