Mention Royal Selangor today and people think of the stunning trophies it makes for the Malaysian and Singapore F1 races, the way it has changed what pewter is used for — think wine accessories, not just tankards — and its long list of international clients such as the LVMH group. With modern retail stores in Suria KLCC, Clarke Quay in Singapore, Harrods of London, Yintai Centre in Beijing and the Ginza district in Tokyo, it is easy to forget that the Royal Selangor story started in a small shop at No. 23 Cross Street, Kuala Lumpur, one hundred and twenty five years ago.
It was 1885 when a young pewtersmith named Yong Koon sailed from the port of Shantou to Kuala Lumpur. The discovery of tin in Malaya had lured him and thousands of other Chinese, to the fledgling tin mining town where he joined his brothers who had established themselves as tinsmiths.
For many years, Yong Koon enjoyed brisk business making simple household items of tin, operating from his shop at No. 23 Cross Street. He later ventured into making pewter incense burners, joss stick holders and candlestands for the altars of wealthy tin miners and Chinese temples. Employing a few other craftsmen, he was among the first pewtersmiths in Kuala Lumpur.
Just as silver products are hallmarked, Yong Koon stamped each of his products with the mark "Yu He Zu Xi" where "Yu He" or Jade Peace was the name of the shop, and "Zu Xi" or pure tin reflected the high quality of the material used.
The 1930s were challenging times as the world went through an economic depression and war was approaching. The family had saved enough money and moved to their own shophouse at No 219 Pudu road where they started Malayan Pewter Works.
When demand for traditional ceremonial pewter ware was on a decline, Yong Koon and his sons started making European style products for the British and other expatriates. This was an important turning point for the business and laid the foundation for an export market in future years.
From the late 1930s, three other pewter companies — Tiger Pewter, Selangor Pewter and Lion Pewter were formed by Yong Koon's sons, Peng Pow, Peng Kai, Peng Seong and Peng Sin. Eventually only Selangor Pewter, ran by Peng Kai, survived.
By the end of the war in 1945, peace returned to the country but the pewter business continued to languish. Peng Kai and his wife Soh Eng then rented half a shop in Kuala Lumpur's busiest shopping street, Batu road (now known as Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman). Soh Eng ran the shop and sold pewter vases, pitchers, ashtrays and cigarette boxes made by Peng Kai in the Pudu road factory. With the use of machinery and production lines introduced by the industrious Peng Kai, the enterprise grew as the country developed.
The company started exporting in the late 60s — firstly to Singapore and then later to Hong Kong, Germany, Denmark, Japan, Australia and the UK. Since the 70s, the company has diversified and extended its business to the design, manufacture and marketing of precious jewellery and hallmarked sterling silver under the names of Selberan and Comyns.
In 1979, the company received a royal warrant from the Sultan of Selangor. To reflect the royal endorsement and the diverse nature of the company, Selangor Pewter then changed its name to Royal Selangor in 1992. Today, the third and fourth generations of the Yong family work with a passionate team of managers to build Royal Selangor into a truly global brand.
With a workforce of more than 300 craftspeople, the pewter factory based in Setapak is now part of an award-winning Visitor Centre which attracts over 150,000 visitors every year from all over the world. It is here that today's generation of consumers learn about Royal Selangor's humble beginnings and how pewter continues to be very much a hand-crafted industry.
While the pride in craftsmanship remains, the uses of pewter have changed dramatically over the years. Royal Selangor's product offerings now span not only home décor items but also children's gifts, personal accessories and wine. Its in-house design team has won design awards such as the prestigious Red Dot, and has worked with international designers such as Erik Magnussen and Nick Munro.
Aside from F1 races, Royal Selangor's specially-designed trophies also grace other high profile sporting occasions such as the World Cup of golf and the Shanghai ATP Masters tennis tournament. The company was also appointed licensee for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Millennium Collection, creating a range exclusively to commemorate the spectacular event.
Throughout its 125 year history, the entrepreneurial spirit and knack for innovation have seen the enterprise through trials and tribulations of two world wars and economic turmoil to be become one of the best known pewter companies in the world. Yong Koon would have been proud.
Click here to have a look at our 125th Anniversary collection
