The company’s history began in 1885, when Yong Koon opened a small shop called Ngeok Foh, where he handcrafted pewter objects mainly for ceremonial use, such as joss stick holders, incense burners and candle holders for altars of Chinese homes and temples. After the British Colonial took control of Malaysia, in addition to the above items, the company also produced water pitchers, ashtrays and teapots. The brand was later renamed Selangor Pewter.
In 1968, the company opened its first full-service store at 231, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. The store quickly became a popular shopping destination for tourists visiting Malaysia.
In 1972, Selangor Pewter founded Selberan, one of the first Malaysian companies to design and manufacture Western-style jewelry. In 1985, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Yong Koon’s arrival in Malaysia, the company opened an exhibition at the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur titled “100 Years of Pewter Industry in Malaysia”, along with creating the largest pewter jar in the world. Around this time the company also started exporting, first to Singapore and Hong Kong, then to Australia, Europe and Japan.
In 1992, the company changed its name to Royal Selangor to reflect an endorsement from Sultan Salahuddin, dropping the word “Pewter” from the name as the company’s product range expanded to include items made from other materials.
The company also acquired many long-standing and world-renowned manufacturing brands such as Engefields, the more than 300-year-old British pewter-making company, or Comyns, the British silver-manufacturing company.
In 2004, Royal Selangor opened a tour center at its main facility in Setapak, providing a trip back in time for visitors to the history of Malaysian pewter production.
The company offers over a thousand tableware and gift items, from tankards and tea sets, to photo frames, desk accessories and wine accessories. Distributed worldwide from its base in Kuala Lumpur, the company has more than 40 shops worldwide. It exports to more than 20 countries, with retail outlets in London, Toronto, Melbourne, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sydney and Singapore.
According to Wikipedia.
