Royal Selangor

The modern Royal Selangor Visitor Centre houses retail outlets, cosy cafés, the production line and a delightful exhibit that tells the charming history of this award-winning company. Royal Selangor Behind the Piala Seri Endon trophy Royal Selangor, Malaysia’s premier pewter brand, has been sponsoring the Piala Seri Endon trophies since the batik design competition was launched in 2003. O.P. Jade chats to Datin Paduka Chen Mun Kuen, Director of Royal Selangor International Sdn Bhd, and tours the remarkable Visitor Centre in Setapak – to find out more about how the trophies are made and about this remarkable company. he morning I arrived at Royal Selangor’s award-win - red cheongsam . This was none other than Datin Paduka ning Visitor Centre in Setapak Jaya I was struck by Chen Mun Kuen. Thow international in feel it was. Yes, the famous “Welcome to Royal Selangor,” she said. Her warm Giant Tankard does catch one’s eye, but the greenery sur - smile and firm handshake instantly assured me that the rounding the Centre, and the clean modern, architecture interview would be a comfortable and pleasant one. Also are welcoming and awe-inspiring as well. Why hadn’t I present that morning to welcome us were two other love - heard of it earlier? I wondered in surprise. ly ladies – Design Manager, Siti Fauziah Hj Abdul Kadir As I made my way to the escalator, the staff greeted (who has been with Royal Selangor for more than 23 me and the photographer with a friendly smile before years) and Shamaine Othman, from the Communications leading us to the cosy café, where the aroma of coffee department. filled the morning air and an array of scrumptious cakes We sat down on one of the couches. “You must try the were on display. scones. They’re delicious!” exclaimed Datin Paduka Chen, Soon, we were joined by a smiling lady dressed in a with a smile. We readily complied! 74 batik guild magazine The Piala Seri Endon trophy, awarded to the crème de la crème of Malaysia’s batik designers. Royal Selangor: Pewter in History house, they made and sold simple house - Royal Selangor is probably one of Malaysia’s most hold items – pewter incense burners, joss revered global brands, with products sold the world over stick holders and candle stands, just to in their own branches or in department stores. But how name a few items. Every piece would many of us know how it started? I asked five of my carry the brothers’ touch-mark, Ngeok friends what they knew about this company and their Foh , which means Jade Peace, in Hakka. responses ranged from “Isn’t it a government-owned Business was sluggish during the company?” to “It belongs to one of the royal families, Second World War. The Japanese doesn’t it?” declared tin a controlled commodity. “It The history of this prestigious pewter brand began in was a time of great uncertainty. Who the south-eastern Chinese port of Shantou. It was in 1885 would want to buy pewter?” reminisced that Datin Paduka Chen’s grandfather, Yong Koon, a Datin Paduka Chen. Despite all that, Yong young pewtersmith, sailed to Nanyang (as the Chinese Koon’s sons continued the pewter busi - The traditional called Southeast Asia). ness. In 1942, Selangor Pewter was estab - touch-mark “Yu He Zu Xi” Yong Koon was already an apprentice pewtersmith lished. – which repre - and was just 14 years old when he arrived in Kuala From just one rented shop – half a sents “jade Lumpur. A proud Hakka, Yong Koon and his brothers shop to be exact – on Kuala Lumpur’s peace” and “pure tin”. eventually started a pewter business at Jalan Silang (pre - busiest street, Batu Road (now known as viously known as Cross Street). Operating out of a shop Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman), to the batik guild magazine 75 countless showrooms worldwide, this family-run business Producing the Trophy has indeed come a long way. Production of the trophy usually starts about two to three In the 1970s, the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah months before delivery is due. According to Datin Paduka of Selangor was travelling in Australia when he stepped into Chen, there are several stages involved in the process. a large department store with his entourage in tow. “Each and every stage is equally important,” emphasised The sales assistants, not knowing who the Sultan was, Datin Paduka Chen. respectfully asked where he was from. The Sultan You will notice that the intricate design of the trophy answered “Selangor”. resembles a hand-block, or batik chop, which is used in “Ah, Selangor Pewter,” the sales staff intoned. The making batik. The trophy designer, Nicholas Foong, Sultan was amused that the Australians had heard of explained that the idea behind the design was actually Selangor Pewter, but not of the state of Selangor, nor of inspired by the late Tun Endon. “The idea came to me the Sultan of Selangor. when I visited the late Tun Endon at her residence. I Upon his return to Malaysia, the Sultan decided that noticed that there were a lot of flowers – fresh orchids, to the pewter company should be granted royal status. In be exact. I knew Tun Endon liked fresh orchids, so I decid - 1979, he conferred a royal warrant on Selangor Pewter. ed to use orchids and pucuk rebung as the motifs when I The Sultan also insisted that every pewter piece he designed the trophy,” explained Nicholas. bought be engraved with the words: “By royal appoint - Before long, Nicholas came up with the final draft of ment to his Royal Highness The Sultan of Selangor.” the trophy’s design. Tun Endon was very happy with the Datin Paduka Chen personally attended to the Sultan. design and the production for the trophy commenced In 1992, the company officially changed its name to Royal right away. Selangor, in recognition of the royal warrant. With over 40 years of Patience and experience, Chin Yoke Lan passion are key shares that pewter ham - to excellent mering requires great pewtersmithing. estimation and accuracy skills. Happy workers man the production line at Royal Selangor. Creating the Piala Seri Endon trophy The Process The annual Piala Seri Endon competition is now in its The making of the main 18-inch (approximately 460mm) ninth year. Starting out with just one category, Fashion, high trophy involved several stages. This large trophy is the competition expanded to three categories when Soft kept by the competition organiser, Yayasan Budi Furnishing and Handicraft were added in 2004 and 2005 Penyayang Malaysia. Royal Selangor makes smaller repli - respectively. cas for the winners to keep every year. Royal Selangor has produced all the trophies for the The handwork for the trophies is the difficult part. competition from the very start. When asked why Royal “Due to its intricate motif, each piece needs to be hand Selangor decided to sponsor the trophies, Datin Paduka worked and filed to ensure the orchid motif is free from Chen gave me a simple answer: “Why not?” burrs or sharp edges,” explained Shamaine. According to Datin Paduka Chen, the late Tun Endon Then comes the staining. “The staining process is to Mahmood, after whom the competition is named, was an ensure the inner parts of the trophy are darker than the ardent patron of Royal Selangor. “She had a wide collec - outer parts, which are buffed to a shine. This gives the tion of our pewter products. When she developed the design depth,” said Datin Paduka Chen. “It may look sim - idea of the Piala Seri Endon batik design competition, Tun ple, but it requires some skill to ensure the inner portion is Endon personally approached me about the trophies. We evenly stained.” had a discussion. I took a look at the design to see how According to Datin Paduka Chen, extra care is taken we could encompass pewter in the final product. One during the buffing process. “We have to make sure the thing led to another and voila !” explained Datin Paduka trophies are not pressed too hard, or else some of the Chen, as she held the trophy in her hands. motifs may be buffed off or you end up having some 76 batik guild magazine A wide selection of exquisite pewter products on Exclusive batik-inspired designs on a range of personal accessories, display at the Visitor Centre. such as cuff links and handbag hooks. edges that are too rounded,” she explained. Their upcoming new Batik-themed series was Shamaine later shared that the trick actually lies in launched in September 2011. This very unique and inter - balancing the pressure and using the correct amount of esting range is now available at all retail outlets as well as wax to give the trophy a shiny finish. “You don’t want too on our online shop", Datin Paduka Chen shared. much wax because it will be a hassle when it comes to “Being a Malaysian company that has observed, benefit - cleaning the trophy later on,” she said. ed from and played a role in this country’s growth for over Apart from pewter, wood is also used. Both the wood a century – it is an honour to be able to contribute to our and pewter parts are checked and certified by the line country’s movements and preserve our nation’s heritage.” inspector before the trophy is assembled. The production line actually makes a sample of the trophy for approval – before the actual production gets into action. “The pro - The Melon Teapot duction line then follows the approved sample to produce Born and raised in pewter dust, all the trophies, with quality assurance consistently in Datin Paduka Chen can be seen at place to ensure accuracy in all dimensions and finish of the Visitor Centre, wearing her the end product,” explained Datin Paduka Chen.

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