The Artisanal Legacy Of Royal Selangor’s Autumn/Winter 2025 Collection
The world’s foremost name in quality pewter upholds its 140 years of legacy by drawing inspiration from the Silk Road and London’s Savoy Hotel, as well as revisiting its iconic Melon Teapot for its latest collection.
One of the nation’s oldest industries, tin mining shaped Malaya’s early economy and elevated it to become the world’s largest tin producer. Ipoh is known as ‘The City That Tin Built’, as it transformed Perak into one of the richest states in the region during the 19th century. The industrial uses of tin include bronze alloys, tin foil, soldering, and culinary equipment. It is also the main component of Royal Selangor’s signature pewterware, which is blended with copper and antimony to form a durable, high-quality alloy.
Royal Selangor, which celebrates its 140th anniversary this year, is intrinsically linked to the region where tin inspired generations of artisans to transform raw metal into meaningful craft.
A Journey Across Time, Heritage, & Artistry
Although tin mining activities have predominantly ceased in the state, Chen Tien Yue, Executive Director of Royal Selangor, explained:
“There is plenty of tin in this part of the world, such as in Indonesia. We buy our tin from the London Metal Exchange, requesting through our London broker that we receive MSC (Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad)-branded tin located at Port Klang. They are one of the world’s largest tin smelters, and they carry out their smelting operations in Butterworth and Port Klang.”
It was in this historic region, at the opulent setting of The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat in Perak, that Royal Selangor held its Autumn/Winter 2025 launch, A Journey Across Time, Heritage & Artistry. The enchanting creations from 12 collections were showcased at the newly updated Jeff’s Cellar, an award-winning fine-dining restaurant housed within a 260-million-year-old limestone cave.
Celestial Beings
Managing Director and fourth-generation successor Dato’ Yong Yoon Li highlighted the crown jewel of the launch: Whispers of the Silk Road: A Tribute to the Apsaras of Dunhuang. Yong himself travelled to the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, China, which are situated at a strategic point along the Silk Route, at the crossroads of trade.
“I took a plane that required you to pull the shutters down upon landing because they don’t want you to see the secret bases around Dunhuang,” he revealed.
One of the world’s largest treasure houses of Buddhist art, Dunhuang dates back to AD 366 and houses approximately 45,000 square metres of murals and more than 2,000 painted sculptures. Yong was particularly captivated by the apsaras—beautiful divine nymphs in Hindu and Buddhist mythology—often depicted dancing or playing instruments as they glide through the skies with flowing ribbons and robes.
Using its technology and craftsmanship, Royal Selangor elevated these paintings and murals beyond the flat plane and into a three-dimensional realm, translating them into figurines, vases, tumblers, and tea caddies.
Bold Lines
For its next collection, Royal Selangor journeyed to Ol’ Blighty for design inspiration. Savoy is a nod to the bold transformation of London’s Savoy Hotel when it embraced the Art Deco movement through its glamorous interiors during the Roaring Twenties.
“We once again collaborated with Australian designer Jarrod Lim, whose earlier Crystalline collection with us earned recognition at the Tableware International Awards of Excellence in 2018,” Yong said.
“We built on the design codes of the hotel and arrived at a future-retro aesthetic. By infusing the marbleised resin base of the table lamp with copper dust, our artisans created a fascinating effect, giving it a shimmer reminiscent of natural stone.”
The collection—which also includes a wall clock, fruit bowl, and fountain pen—is replete with sensual fluting, voluptuous forms, and visual references to the Jazz Age’s indulgent approach to luxury.
Heritage Encapsulated
To mark Royal Selangor’s milestone anniversary, four new editions of its iconic Melon teapot—first created by Yong Koon, Yong’s great-grandfather and the founder of Royal Selangor—were unveiled in pearl white, teal, gold copper, and blush.
“It still represents our brand’s DNA, as it encompasses everything from casting to soldering and weaving,” Yong said. “We haven’t changed the design of the teapot since it was first introduced; we’ve only refined the manufacturing process. Even so, everything is still handmade in small batches.”
More Collections from Autumn/Winter 2025
The collections stand as a testament to Royal Selangor’s enduring legacy, proving that its heritage of craftsmanship continues to thrive four generations on.
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