Pewter, a material as bright and shiny as silver, was once widely used for tableware. It is even mentioned in the opening chapter to the classic work of fiction, Wuthering Heights: "One end, indeed, reflected splendidly both light and heat from ranks of immense pewter dishes, towering row after row."

Over time, as more practical materials have been used in tableware, fashions for pewter have changed. Royal Selangor, one of the oldest and best-known names in the pewter industry, has created new interest in the material, by offering refreshing designs and uses in products which fit as well into modern apartments, as they do into more traditional-looking houses.

"There's no need to go back to what pewter was 100 years ago, because we see new ways to use the material for today's modern lifestyles," Chen Tien Yue, executive director of Royal Selangor Marketing, told the Global Times.

Renowned for its fine craftsmanship and innovative pewter designs, Royal Selangor was founded in Malaysia in 1885 by Yong Koon, a young pewtersmith, who sailed from China's Shantou port, Guangdong Province, to the tin mining town of Kuala Lumpur. Surviving family feuds, world wars and economic upheavals, the company has grown to be a top pewter maker in the world with an impressive workforce of some 250 skilled craftsmen. Today, they develop a fine range of homeware, gifts and personal accessories.

Beauty and uniqueness

Recently, the brand, in partnership with the National Palace Museum of Taipei, launched The Imperial Collection comprising homeware and personal accessories inspired by the beauty and uniqueness of precious antiques. Designers have given a fresh interpretation to this most revered treasure of Chinese culture.

With each piece verified with the Royal Selangor trademark and the National Palace Museum logo, the collection - which includes tankards, coasters, tea caddies, tumblers, tea pots, cufflinks, photo frames, pendants and plaques - exemplifies the craftsmen's ability to mix historical inspiration with modern designs to produce items ideal for contemporary lifestyles.

"Through our designs, we hope to make rare and treasured museum pieces accessible to any home and create a new appreciation for Chinese art and culture with modern consumers throughout the world," Royal Selangor's executive director Yong Yoon Li said.

One of the cool designs in this new collection is Dragon, a lidded tankard that features a beautifully sculpted dragon and swirling cloud motifs, all inspired by the handles of a cloisonné (a decorative technique) incense burner from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The dragon is a symbol of power and prosperity while the cloud is said to represent luck and promotion, which make it an excellent choice for gift buyers.

"That's an ideal piece, which is not only modern in style but also has some cultural inspiration," added Chen. "We are not just making replicas of antiques."

In addition to homeware, The Imperial Collection also offers stylish personal accessories. A set of cufflinks named Ruyi boasts an interesting design, which takes after the curvilinear outline of a rare ceramic pillow from the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). The unique shape also symbolizes good fortune as it resembles the lingzhi fungus, which is known as the "plant of immortality."

"We drew inspiration from the museum but came out with different things. Since it's up to our design team to decide where we want to put those auspicious patterns and motifs, there was a lot of room for creativity," Chen added.

Polished by hand

The smooth surfaces, as well as the sculptural lines of the items in this collection, are proof of excellent craftsmanship. The majority of Royal Selangor's pewter products are hand cast and each piece is polished by hand. Pewter lends itself to different manufacturing techniques, some of which have been handed down through many generations.

Regarding the material, Royal Selangor's pewter, which is completely lead-free, is composed of at least 90 percent tin, with a small proportion of copper and antimony (a lustrous, white metallic element) added to strengthen it. The low melting point and relative softness of the alloy make pewter an ideal and versatile material to work with. Designers at Royal Selangor are able to express the individuality, beauty and character of the material in a variety of finishes and forms, while craftsmen are able to create very exquisite details in a way that is hard to do with other metals.

As pewter was once known as a "poor man's silver," people may find many similarities between the two materials. But Chen pointed out that pewter doesn't tarnish, which is a big advantage over silver, and its more affordable price is also highly appreciated in today's marketplace.

Confidence in the market

With four retail stores and some 20 department store concessions on the Chinese mainland, Chen expressed his confidence in the market, saying, "we believe we have the right products for the market of homeware and gift-buying in this country."

Royal Selangor's business on the Chinese mainland is growing and is expected to expand to new cities in the near future, according to Chen.

"Due to the slowing domestic economy, we saw over the past few months that consumer spending is not as strong as it was, but we still believe there is a lot room for growth," he added. "We only have selling spots in 25 locations in this country, and the number can be much higher."

In order to better tap into this promising market, the Malaysian pewter maker is not only working with the National Palace Museum in Taipei, but is cooperating with famous Chinese designers such as Freeman Lau and Jamy Yang.

The prices of Royal Selangor's pewter products mainly range from about 500 yuan ($79) for a captivating pendant, to 7,000 yuan or so for an elegant tea set.

The Imperial Collection will be available in October at all Royal Selangor retail stores, authorized dealers and online at www.royalselangor.com.

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