Craft metal accessories you can brag about at the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre

Have you always wanted to look cool by doing some blacksmithing but you can’t pick up that huge hammer? Well, how about you try its lighter cousin, pewtersmithing? The Royal Selangor Visitor Centre is celebrating its 20th anniversary by inviting the public to craft personalised pewter accessories in pewetersmithing workshops, along with some special events!

If you haven’t heard, the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre has been a global destination known for its innovation and commitment to preserving the old art of pewter crafting. Chances are you don’t know what pewter crafts look like, so nasib baik this institution exists for you uncultured swine.

The Royal Selangor Visitor Centre went through quite an evolution. In 1972, Selangor Pewter made its start in Setapak Jaya, then shifted to the new facility in 1977, laying the foundation for the Selangor Pewter Complex and making the first visitor centre. The centre started out smaller than its current size and offered a retail store and a condensed factory tour to show the public glimpses of pewtersmithing.

Then in 1999, a new vision for the visitor centre was realised, then opened in 2004. Designed to host over 1,000 visitors, the centre has become an immersive experience into Malaysia’s history and arts with tin. Along with narrating historical tales of colonial Malaya’s tin rush, the centre showcases the evolution of arts, culture and craftsmanship through stimulating exhibits, live demonstrations and more.

“Beyond being a showcase for our brand, the visitor centre stands as a platform, where we highlight Malaysian arts, crafts and culture. The exhibits continue to resonate just as strongly today as they did twenty years ago. This anniversary is a meaningful celebration of our heritage, the vibrant experiences offered, and the global community that appreciates the unique journey within these walls,” — Dato’ Yong Yoon Li, Managing Director of Royal Selangor.

To celebrate their 20th birthday, the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre is hosting a year-long celebration with some engaging events the public can join in on.

Now there’s a little something extra for the history nerds: Besides the usual tin history and arts exhibit, there’s now another exhibition dedicated to the visitor centre’s origin story! You can now witness important key milestones that got the centre to where it is now, along with some interesting facts.

If you’d much prefer some hands-on activities, you can join The Foundry’s pewtersmithing workshops! Craft personalised pewter accessories like keychains and pendants using moulds or, if you’re adventurous, freehand techniques. Additionally, there’s special edition designs that feature motifs like mengkuang, the melon teapot, and more. As these designs commemorate the visitor centre’s 20th anniversary, each mould features the centre’s 20th anniversary logo, making it a special memento of their milestone that you can keep.

You can also be one of the first to craft a special edition pewter bowl at their School of Hard Knocks workshop. Craft it the traditional way with a wooden mallet, personalise it with your name or initials, and take it home along with a certificate and apron.

Maybe you’re into less metallic merchandise, in which case you can get exclusive t-shirts, bags and umbrellas, all part of an exclusive collection at the visitor centre. Each item embodies the essence of the centre’s 20-year milestone and serves as a cherished memento.

Just as the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre has made their milestone, they hope you can make yours too. Whether it’s a personal ambition, a wish for a loved one, or a vision for the world, the centre invites everyone to share their dreams and aspirations on the Wishing Wall.

The Royal Selangor Visitor Centre opens every day from 9 am to 5 pm. If you want more information or plan your visit, check out their website, which also allows visitors to book a free shuttle service to the centre or to sign up for the pewtersmithing workshops! Alternatively, you can call 03-4145-6122 or email them your enquiries.