Royal Selangor was first established in 1885 and a century later is
the world’s leading pewter manufacturer.
And this is how it all started...
The
Royal Selangor Story
In 1885 an enterprising young man, Yong Koon, set sail from Swatow in
China for the Malay Peninsula. Armed with just a set of hand tools and
a determination to make his fortune in the Peninsula, the founder of Royal
Selangor quickly set up a cottage industry employing pewtersmiths recruited
from family members and close friends.
In the early 1890s, thanks to the skill and tenacity of his craftsmen,
Yong Koon's little business came to be known as the Selangor Pewter Company.
Indeed, its early designs are still cherished today. And what so humbly
began as a one - man operation grew to be the largest pewter designer
and manufacturer in the world.
By the turn of the century, the Selangor Pewter Company was busy fulfilling
the needs of a growing clientele of entrepreneurs and traders. The advent
of the motor age soon gave rise to a new product - pewter number plates!
Early treasures from the era that survive include altar and ceremonial
artifacts and daily household appliances. Some of these grace national
museums, archives or make up personal collections.
In conjunction with its centenary in 1985, the artisans at Royal Selangor
marked the occasion with an extraordinary feat - the production of the
world's largest tankard.
A fitting tribute to the vision of its founder, the tankard at 6.5 feet
high and with a capacity of 4920 pints, was inaugurated into the Guinness
Book of Records. Today, visitors to the world's largest pewter factory
can truly say they stood next to a Giant!
Pewter
Pewter is an alloy comprising mainly Tin.
Tin is a natural resource appreciated for its inert, soft and gentle properties.
Small amounts of antimony and copper are added for strength. And, modern
pewter no longer contains lead - making it perfectly safe to eat and drink
from. You need not worry that pewter will ever flake, for it barely tarnishes,
making it so simple to clean.
Pewter has a most unique character.
Much too soft for making swords or sabers, it has always been considered
a malleable material throughout the world. Such is its nature that
it adapts itself perfectly to shapes and forms of both beauty and function.
Whether reflecting a warm sheen or shining like burnished silver, its
dignified personality adds a touch of subtle elegance to any setting in
any occasion.
STONE LEAF (TETRACERA SCANDENS) - the finishing touch
A unique feature of a beautifully handcrafted piece of Royal Selangor
is its soft satin luster. Every item is hand-assembled and hand-finished
using skills which take many years to acquire. The aid of the stone leaf
provides the satin luster.
Tetracera Scandens is a rather large woody climber with medium-sized leaves
about 3 - 16 cm long. The leaves are usually broadest near the apex, rounded
and toothed near the tip.
From the Simpoh family (Dilleniaceae), which consists mostly of trees,
shrubs and climbers, Tetracera Scandens can be found in the Tropics in
open spaces such as river banks, brushwood and edges of forests.
It is believed that the stone leaf contains a certain amount silica. On the upper surface it has thousands of tiny hairs which make it rough to the touch. Thus the leaves were used as sandpaper more than a century ago.
Even though many different grades of sandpaper are available now, the stone leaf still provides the best finish to a piece of Royal Selangor. It is also used to remove light scratches and stains on pewter.
A skilled pewterer normally keeps a good stock of dried leaves. The selection of leaf is a skill in itself. Each leaf is carefully selected based on its maturity. The young and very old leaf is normally not suitable. After it is plucked, each leaf is dried under the sun and kept for use in the future.
A few minutes before use, the leaf is soaked to soften it. It is then dried with a piece of soft cloth. The skilled hand then guides the leaf over the pewter surface to give it an even finish. After that the pewter item is brought to finish with a soft woolen rag to bring you the satin luster that is the hallmark of Royal Selangor.