Royal Selangor has unveiled an extensive lineup of collections for Autumn/Winter 2024. The world-famous pewter company’s carefully considered collections include many new designs, and as you would expect, each piece has been expertly crafted to inspire and bring joy.
Regular readers will know that we are Royal Selangor fans, born from the magazine founder, Paul Godbold, who has a part-Malaysian heritage. However, even without Paul’s influence and overtures, we’d still be fans, as Royal Selangor is a rarity in today’s times, being a company that combines incredible heritage, exquisite skills and the finest quality.
For this special feature, we examine the stories behind each of the company’s Autumn/Winter 2024 collections.
A Collaboration with British Artist Rachel Gray on a Wildlife-Inspired Collection
Royal Selangor has announced an exclusive collaboration with the renowned British digital artist Rachel Gray, best known for her striking wildlife portraiture. The collection brings Gray’s signature style to life through three-dimensional pewter creations, blending artistic expression with functional homeware.
Gray’s unique sketch-like designs are beautifully captured in intricate low-relief sculpts, transforming pewter into striking depictions of wildlife. The Earth collection marks Royal Selangor’s first-ever collaboration with a female designer.
The collection includes a diverse range of functional yet artistic pieces: a bottle chiller, chopstick rests, coasters, whisky tumblers, and more.
This iconic collection showcases Gray’s talent through the strength and grace of each animal, with the artist capturing their essence in the wild. Her vision merges seamlessly with Royal Selangor’s distinguished pewter-smithing heritage, resulting in a collection of timeless objects for the home.
Honouring the life of Maria Sibylla Merian. A collaboration with The British Museum
Royal Selangor has launched its third installation of The British Museum, which features pieces that draw inspiration from the renowned artwork of Maria Sibylla Merian, a pioneering artist and scientist celebrated for her detailed studies of the natural world.
Maria’s time in Surinam, where she meticulously documented plants, insects, and animals, Merian’s drawings led to important scientific discoveries, such as dispelling the myth that insects emerged from mud.
Her work set a new standard for scientific illustration, combining artistic beauty with scientific precision, and is now housed in the British Museum, which holds the largest collection of her work. This collection translates Merian’s groundbreaking art into stunning pewter pieces, honouring her legacy as a trailblazer in art and science.
Her contributions challenged societal norms and allowed women to pursue scientific studies and careers, making her a celebrated historical figure. Each piece captures the same intricate detail and reverence for the natural world that Merian championed, allowing her legacy to live on in a new medium.
Tigris: A tribute to the Panthera Tigris Jacksoni
A homage to the majestic Malayan tiger, Tigris captures the essence and splendour of the tiger’s form through striking geometry and unique cubism.
Tigris is a collaboration with VERITAS, one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary design firms recognised for their architectural expertise. The collection’s use of concrete is a nod to the firm’s background in construction.
The Helix Collection: Where art meets science in wine
Helix offers a collection of meticulously crafted wine accessories inspired by the precision and elegance of the Archimedes spiral. These designs enhance aeration, allowing the wine to develop its bouquet of flavours and aromas.
Ace: Go all in for a memorable night of excitement!
Royal Selangor has expanded its Ace collection with the addition of more iconic playing card suit-inspired designs, adding a touch of elegance and thrill to everyday life. Ace’s design is also influenced by the progressive traits of modern-day culture, utilising Victorian-Edwardian decorative motifs and striking geometry associated with the American Wild West.
Celestial Odyssey: Inspired by the Great Classical Chinese Novel ‘Journey to the West’
Inspired by the 16th-century Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West’, Celestial Odyssey chronicles the epic journey of the monk Xuanzang and his companions.
Together with the mighty and clever Monkey King, Sun Wukong, the courageous and loyal Zhu Bajie, or Pigsy, and the gentle and wise Sha Wujing, also known as Sandy, they set forth on a perilous quest to retrieve sacred Buddhist scriptures. Through their trials and triumphs, the story explores themes of friendship, perseverance, and their search for enlightenment.
Each character represents different aspects of human nature and virtue.
Koi – Symbolic of everlasting fortune
For many generations, the Koi has been regarded as a symbol of luck, prosperity, and resilience in Asian culture, so much so that its reach has extended to Chinese mythology. The Legend of the Dragon Gate tells of the Jade Emperor’s challenge: any Koi that could leap the Dragon Gate atop the roaring falls of the Yellow River would transform into a mythical golden-scaled dragon.
The collection features nine graceful 24k gilded Koi gliding across the plate’s surface, which evoke movement and serenity.
2025: The Year of the Snake
Royal Selangor welcomes 2025, the Year of the Snake, with a brand-new zodiac-inspired collection. The snake is the sixth sign in the Chinese zodiac, crossing the finish line after the dragon. In Asian culture, the snake is symbolic of the supernatural and spiritual.
Many believe that people born in the Year of the Snake are mysterious, protective of their loved ones, and known to possess great wisdom.
Marvel-themed collectables featuring Deadpool, Wolverine, Groot and Rocket Raccoon!
Royal Selangor has expanded its Marvel-themed collectables by introducing a stunning new line of figurines. This exciting launch features two of Marvel’s most popular characters, Deadpool and Rocket Raccoon, with each being impeccably crafted to capture their unique charm and appeal.
Star Wars themed Figurines
Not content to rest on its laurels, Royal Selangor has also expanded its Star Wars-themed collection, which features the iconic characters Emperor Palpatine, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2. The figurines pay homage to memorable movie moments from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Episode VI). Each figurine is 6″ tall and set on a base of black composite resin, providing a sturdy and dramatic display.
The collections featured in the Autumn/Winter 2024 lineup will be available at Royal Selangor stores, authorised dealers, and online at royalselangor.com from 30 September 2024 onwards.