KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- In the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, ingots of pewter, an alloy primarily made of tin, are transformed into works of art by skilled artisans, some of whom have been working in the craft for decades.
From pouring the molten pewter into molds and refining the cast objects to removing spurs and seams and giving each piece its final polish, the process reflects a tradition that has come to define the quality and collectability of Royal Selangor, the world's largest maker of pewter products.
Yong Yoon Li, who serves as its managing director, said that in recent years, the company has continued to witness strong potential in the Chinese market and intends to further expand its presence there.
"Royal Selangor hopes to deepen its engagement with Chinese consumers by bringing more handcrafted pieces that blend traditional techniques with contemporary design," he said.
The cultural exchange is evident at the Royal Selangor Visitor Center in Kuala Lumpur, where rows of pewter pieces, from traditional tableware and tea sets to modern sculptures and limited-edition collectibles, illustrate a blend of heritage and innovation.
Royal Selangor was founded in 1885. Through new techniques, materials and design approaches, the company has built a reputation for craftsmanship that continues to evolve.
Yong recently visited Dunhuang in northwest China and was deeply impressed by the profound cultural heritage of the Mogao Caves. Royal Selangor's latest product release, the "Silk Road" series, draws inspiration from classic artistic motifs such as the flying apsaras of Dunhuang. "As a key hub along the ancient Silk Road, Dunhuang provided tremendous inspiration to our design team."
Looking ahead, China remains a central focus of the company's strategy. Yong said the company has witnessed increasing demand from Chinese consumers and plans to further expand its footprint there.
"We have already opened our largest overseas flagship store in Beijing and established counters in Shanghai and Chengdu. In the future, we plan to expand our offline retail network to more cities," he said.
A single purchase
