The Royal Selangor Story

Royal Selangor was first established in 1885 and a century later is the world’s leading pewter manufacturer. But it's not all pewter at Royal Selangor. For the last thirty years, we have been successfully diversifying while maintaining our commitment to excellence in craftsmanship. And this is how it all started...

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. Yong Koon's dedication and commitment to excellence ensured the growing popularity of his pewter designs. 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 the early 1970s, the Selangor Pewter moved to its current home in Setapak, at the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Since its move it has been visited by celebrities and international personalities. Over the last three decades, Selangor Pewter has been actively promoting its designs overseas to great success. To date, our achievements in design, quality and packaging have won us awards at the Formland Fair in Denmark, the Frankfurt International Gift Fair and the American Pewter Guild Competition. Our William Morris Wine Accessories won the Gift of the Year award for 1997 from the Giftware Association of the United Kingdom. In 1992, Selangor Pewter became Royal Selangor, to commemorate being bestowed a Royal Warrant by the Sultan of Selangor. A timely introduction, the new name reflects the growth and diversity of the company in terms of its achievements in quality craftsmanship, its extensive worldwide distribution, and also its capabilities in fine design and craftsmanship - not only in pewter but also, in other materials. Represented within the Royal Selangor group of companies are; Selberan - award winning premier jeweller, Comyns, hallmarked silver, and Selcraft producer of high quality hand-painted collectibles.