Blast from the past
Royal Selangor is extending its long-standing partnership with London’s Victoria & Albert Museum with two new collections – Streamline and William Morris. Imbued with historical provenance, the two collections take inspiration from timeless design elements that have been updated to complement modern living; fitting for the Malaysian brand’s collaboration with the world’s leading museum of art and design, which dates back to 1996.
In Streamline, the glamourous glitz of the roaring Twenties is channeled into a series of home decor items. Inspired by the sweeping Art Deco movement – all chevrons, starbusts and exuberant geometric patterns – Streamline takes specific reference from a rug designed by textile designer extraordinaire Marion Dorn (1899-1964). Dorn came to England from San Francisco in the early 1920s and by the mid-1930s, was considered a leading extile designer. She carried out commissions for London hotels like Claridge’s and the Savoy, and for the ocean liners Orion and the Queen Mary. The focus on her fluid concentric curves here are typical of the bold luxury of Art Deco, and specifically its nautical use, translating beautifully onto pewter. The collection consists of a valet tray, serving tray, trinket box, pendant, candlestand, hip flask and bottle chiller.
For William Morris, Royal Selangor brings the beauty of nature to the fore. This collection of wine accessories is inspired by the titular 19th century English textile designer, artist and writer associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement, which promoted simple design that was reinforced by the highest standard of craftsmanship and materials. The grape and vine motif in the William Morris collection is derived from the ornamental borders for The History of Godefrey of Boloyne (1893) and The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer (1896) by his own Kelmscott Presse. The collection comprises a decanter, bottle chiller, corkscrew, wine funnel, bottle stopper, wine pourer and foil cutter.
