Casting a Vote for Mettle of Singapore Pewter
While many shoppers think of Scandinavia when they think of purchasing pewter, few seem to realize that Singapore offers contemporary design along with some of the best buys in the world.
In fact, prices on pewter purchased in Singapore are about 60% less than in the United States, and about 40% less than in airport duty-free shops around the world.
Selangor Pewter is one of Singapore’s largest, most famous and arguably the best of its pewter manufacturers, but wares by other pewter manufacturers are also widely available.
In general, other manufacturers’ prices are slightly less than Selangor’s, but so are their reputations. Still, products by Garden City, Tumasek and Penang, available at various shops at the Singapore Handicrafts Center, are nicely designed and many are similar to Selangor styles.
An alloy of tin, antimony and copper, pewter is processed in factories in Singapore and neighboring Malaysia. It is then cast or spun into beautiful pieces in styles from Scandinavian modern to a more ornate design that resembles old English silver. The resulting goblets, plates, vases, candle holders and jewelry are good buys for those shopping in Singapore.
Standards are high. Pewter associations in Singapore and most other pewter-producing countries set and maintain industry guidelines for product safety and quality. Contemporary pewter is about 91% to 97% tin, 2% to 7% antimony and 1% to 2% copper. And due to new processing methods, it no longer contains the potentially toxic lead that many shoppers once feared.
As Singapore’s largest pewter manufacturer, Selangor produces and distributes an extraordinary variety of pewter pieces--about 700 items--in a wide range of styles. Objects are created by a team of 16 designers. And recently, the company introduced a collection of modern tableware by noted British designer Gerald Benney.
Almost the entire range of Selangor items is displayed and sold at the company headquarters at Thongsia Building No. 200-00, 30 Bideford Road, in shops at the Singapore Handicraft Center (No. 02-12, 163 Tanglin Road) and at the factory outlet store at 356-W Alexandra Road. There visitors can see pewter processing demonstrations and watch skilled workers creating the objects shown on the shelves.
Pewter making requires highly skilled techniques. Component pieces of each object are hand-cast, then assembled by hand by craftsmen using tin solder. Each piece is then burnished and polished by hand. Some designs require additional etching or dimpling, which all is done by hand.
For living-room curio cabinets or as small gifts, Selangor makes a menagerie of miniature animals, including cats, frogs, horses, elephants, owls, hippos, swans, koala bears and pandas from $10 each.
Picture frames with intricate patterns tooled along the borders cost $12 and up, depending upon size. Singapore’s Merlion is made as a statuette ($11 and up) or engraved on variously priced souvenir plates, tankards and ashtrays.
Fabulous chess sets with elaborately detailed pieces or others with simple contemporary lines sell for about $270 and up.
More functional items include complete serving sets for coffee or tea in exquisite traditional or modern styles, including sets with large platters, two pots, sugar bowl and creamer from about $325 and up.
Sets of salt-and-pepper shakers in various styles are about $35. Candle holders are about $22 per pair, napkin holders about $4 each, chopsticks $8 per pair. Drinking vessels include mugs (about $20 and up, or with wooden handle, $25 and up), tankards ($24 and up), goblets ($23 and up) or pewter and crystal goblets ($27 and up).
There also is a vast array of pitchers, plates, serving platters and bowls, as well as pewter clocks (about $45 and up) and a complete range of pewter and mahogany desktop and smoking accessories with crisp, modern lines.
Selangor Pewter sells no seconds; items that fail production standards are put back into the melting pot. Each piece is marked with a distinctive trademark showing a pewter worker with hammer and anvil.
When buying pewter objects in Singapore or elsewhere, consider that prices depend upon the metal makeup. Those with a higher percentage of copper cost less because they are softer, thus more easily scratched. They may also become discolored.
Another factor in pricing is weight. Items produced by casting are usually heavier, more expensive and more durable. Those that are spun or stamped are lighter in weight and less expensive.
Best assurance of value is to buy items with a reputation for quality.
Prices are quoted U.S. (not Singapore) dollars and reflect currency exchange rates at the time of writing.
