In collaboration with Convergence, VOICE OF ASIA is proud to present timeless articles from the archives, reproduced digitally for your reading pleasure. Originally published in Convergence Volume 12 in 2012, we present this story on Royal Selangor – from its humble beginnings, to its long-lasting legacy today.
A Malaysian success story, Royal Selangor is an icon of corporate excellence, having evolved through two world wars to emerge as one of the leading names in the global pewter business. With a stunning array of accessories, drinkware, home decor and children’s gifts, Royal Selangor, along with luxury lines Selberan and Comyns, has come a long way from its origins as a humble cottage industry, and more than a century since its inception, Royal Selangor is still holding strong to its founder’s vision of a brand synonymous with sophistication and quality.
Join Convergence as we reveal the man behind the dream and the evolution of a legend – as timeless and eternal as ever-shining pewter.
A Burning Dream
In 1885, an enterprising 14 year-old Chinese named Yong Koon left his hometown of Shantou and embarked for Malaya, then under British rule. At the time, the country’s many resources were fast gaining notice in international trade circles, and in particular, tin was becoming recognised as a commodity of significant value. Eager to chase the same dream as thousands of other Chinese migrants before him – to make a future and a fortune, Yong Koon joined his brothers in the burgeoning tin industry to realise their goal of creating a successful tinsmithing business.
Together with a few other craftsmen, Yoon Koon and his brothers established Yu He (Jade Peace), a premium maker of quality tin products in the region. Sharing a zeal for product quality and a dedication to creative excellence, the Yong brothers’ humble business initially focused on creating basic household items of tin and later, religious paraphernalia for a largely Chinese prospector clientele. Popular items were pewter incense burners, joss stick holders and candle stands, often commissioned by Chinese temples in the area. Though the business was successful thanks to a small but respectable clientele, the 1930s saw a growing expatriate community demanding more exquisite craftsmanship and elegance.
Moving with The Times
To satisfy these more sophisticated European patrons, Yong Koon and his offspring moved away from a focus on the practical to the glamorous. Household wares and religious accoutrements were replaced by snuff boxes, tankards and elaborate tea-sets.
After some time, Yong Koon’s sons chose to branch out on their own, forming three independent pewter companies – Tiger (later called Selangor Pewter), Lion and Selangor. However, with the Japanese occupation a decade later, tin was declared a controlled commodity and under this imposition, the individual pewter businesses faltered.
When Yong Koon passed away in 1952, his third son, Peng Kai and his wife Soh Eng decided to rebuild the business under Selangor Pewter. In keeping with family tradition, Peng Kai emulated his father’s commitment to hard work and dedication, and introduced technological innovations to help the business grow. Ten years later in 1962, he moved the business’ operations to a site in Setapak, where the company continues to flourish.
This move gave the second and third generation of the Yong clan the incentive to begin exporting their products overseas, and coupled with the tourist boom in the late 1970s, was a growth in the innovation and the design of the company’s unique pewter souvenirs. After establishing itself as a noteworthy presence in the local crafts industry, Selangor Pewter began branching out to markets in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, and before long, had secured footholds in Germany, Denmark, Australia and the UK.
“We like the heritage we have. We like the fact that today we are still designing and making things in pewter like our great-grandfather was doing over 120 years ago. That’s a nice heritage to continue and preserve.”
Chen Tien Yue, Executive Director of Royal Selangor Marketing
In 1979, the company was conferred a royal charter by the then-ruler of Selangor, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, who was made aware of the popularity of the business when he was visiting Australia and was asked, upon his entrance into a store, from where he hailed. When he replied “Selangor”, the store assistant acknowledged having heard of ‘Selangor Pewter’. So impressed was the sultan by the company’s reach that he decided to endorse it through a royal charter upon his return. However, it wasn’t until 1992 that the company changed its name to Royal Selangor in deference to the sultan’s recognition.
The Evolution of an Icon
As part of its business expansion and the reaching out to a more elite clientele, Royal Selangor became heavily involved in the designing, manufacturing and marketing of sterling silver and precious jewellery. The launching of subsidiary company Selberan Jewellery – a powerful collaboration between local pewter specialists and European jewellers of exceptional skill – birthed stunning new creations for Royal Selangor. With a team of highly qualified gemologists, designers and craftspeople trained by masters in their fields, the award-winning Selberan has taken the business to unprecedented heights of success.
This was followed by the brand’s acquisition of Comyns in 1993, a company with over 300 years of expertise in the silversmithing industry. With a rich heritage and an extensive repertoire for producing some of the most stylish, decorative sterling silver pieces, Comyns brought a myriad of artistic influences spanning the Baroque, Neo-Classical and Nouveau eras to Royal Selangor’s designs. With an archive of over 35,000 patterns, drawings and moulds, the business had a rich pool of inspired resources to draw upon.
Going Strong
Today, Royal Selangor holds true to its humble origins as a family-run business, though its growth and sheer business acumen can be described as anything but. The 4th generation of Yongs continue to give life to Yong Koon’s vision of passion for excellence, and an unwavering commitment to deliver products that are eternal in elegance and superior in quality.
One of them, Chen Tien Yue, General Manager of Royal Selangor Marketing, acknowledges, “We like the heritage we have. We like the fact that today we are still designing and making things in pewter like our great-grandfather was doing over 120 years ago. That’s a nice heritage to continue and preserve.”
Its success in the local and foreign scene assures its continued reputation as a global pewter brand, with a star-studded clientele such as former US president Bill Clinton, Mel Gibson and Martha Stewart attesting to its sophistication. It boasts more than 40 stores worldwide, with outlets in major metropolitan cities such as London, Melbourne, Tokyo and Singapore, and employs 250 craftspeople and a large in-house design team – a state far removed from its modest beginnings as a family-run operation.
Datin Paduka Chen Mun Kuen, Director of Royal Selangor and Yong Koon’s grand-daughter, acknowledges, “One of the reasons why Royal Selangor has managed to survive and grow all these years is because we continuously innovate and create designs that are relevant and desirable to our customers.” She attributes its earliest successes to catering to market demands, first with a Chinese prospector clientele and later with European designs suited to meeting the British expatriate’s needs. “These days, we recognise a change in our customers’ lifestyle and we are responding with designs that are relevant to them.”
Closer to home, Royal Selangor continues to grow, partnering with local celebrities and interior design specialists to bring a new dimension of class and innovation to its ever-expanding range of accessories, homeware and home decor ornaments. Its designs continue to evolve with popular trends in culture, in an effort to appeal to younger generations with the introduction of pendants, cufflinks and children’s gifts.
More than a century after Yong Koon arrived on Malaysian shores in pursuit of a simple dream, Royal Selangor is the culmination of what began as a labour of love – a family endeavour to create a new life in a foreign land. Today, the brand is a global icon, a sterling emblem of sophistication and elegance, and one of the leading names in the pewter industry. Yong Koon’s humble vision has been realised tenfold – Royal Selangor is the epitome of a Malaysian success story, proof that the best things in life begin with a dream.
