Royal Selangor

Royal Selangor

Royal Selangor has been working pewter in Malaysia since 1885, and its chess sets are sculptural rather than traditional. The range is figurative and geometric: seated medieval figures, characters from licensed worlds, and clean modern designs, each cast in pewter and paired with a board built for it. The sets also sit in metal chess sets.

Why pewter

Pewter is an alloy of tin with antimony and copper. It is soft enough to take fine sculptural detail, which is the whole reason a figurative set is cast in it rather than turned from timber: faces, drapery, armour and expression survive the casting in a way they would not in a harder metal. It is also dense, so a piece that looks small carries real weight in the hand.

Pewter does not tarnish the way brass does. It dulls very slowly to a soft grey lustre, and it needs nothing more than an occasional wipe with a dry cloth. Do not use metal polish on a satin or dark matte finish, because it will take the finish off along with the dullness.

The range

• Camelot. Arthurian figures in solid pewter, with a king at 5.5cm and a pawn at 3.5cm, on a 38.5cm board of alternating wood and pewter squares. Small in the hand and unusually detailed for it.
• Lewis. A pewter reading of the twelfth century Lewis chessmen, one army polished and one dark matte, on a nyatoh timber board. Also in Isle of Lewis chess sets.
• Star Wars Classic. Satin-finish pewter figures on bonded porcelain plinths, on a tempered glass board with pewter feet.
• War of the Rings. Pewter throughout, with one army copper-plated to separate the sides, on a 48cm timber board inlaid with pewter marquetry.
• Modernist. Satin-finish pewter in clean geometric forms, pieces from 5cm to 9cm, on a walnut and maple board.
• Chinese. Xiangqi rather than Western chess. Weighted pewter and composite resin discs in red and black, on a walnut board with the River of Chu rendered in sculpted pewter, and a lift-lid case for the pieces.

What they are for

These are display objects that can be played with, and it is more honest to describe them that way round. The figures are small, the detail rewards being looked at closely, and most of them live on a shelf or a side table between games. They are also among the easier sets to buy as a gift, because the appeal is visual and does not depend on the recipient's taste in chess equipment.

Browse related

• Theme chess sets. Subject-led and figurative sets across every material.
• Luxury chess sets. The upper end of the catalogue.
• Modern chess sets. Contemporary and design-led sets, where the Modernist set also sits.
• Staunton chess sets. The traditional pattern, if that is what you are actually after.
• All chess sets. The full range.

Buying Royal Selangor in Australia

Sterling Chess is an authorised Royal Selangor stockist. Every set is held in Australian stock and shipped from Australia, so there is no international freight wait and no customs step, and each arrives in its presentation packaging.

All products sold by Sterling Chess are backed by a 12 month limited manufacturer warranty. This covers manufacturing defects and cracking, and ensures every product is 100% genuine. Sterling Chess also offers 100 day free returns.

Royal Selangor FAQs

What is pewter?

An alloy of tin with antimony and copper. It is soft enough to hold fine sculptural detail and dense enough to give a small piece real weight.

Are these traditional Staunton designs?

The range is figurative and geometric rather than turned Staunton shapes. If the traditional pattern is what you are after, the Staunton chess sets collection is the place to look.

How do I care for pewter pieces?

Wipe them with a dry soft cloth. Pewter dulls very slowly to a soft grey lustre rather than tarnishing the way brass does. Do not use metal polish on satin or dark matte finishes, because it removes the finish.

Are these sets playable or just for display?

Both, though display is the honest emphasis. The pieces are small and detailed, and several of the sets are figurative rather than using recognisable Staunton silhouettes.

Do they all include a board?

Yes. Each set comes with a board made for it, in tempered glass, nyatoh, walnut, walnut and maple, or timber inlaid with pewter. Board size and material are listed on each product page.

Is the Chinese set the same game?

No. It is Xiangqi, Chinese chess, which uses disc-shaped pieces marked with characters and is played on the lines rather than in the squares. It is a different game from Western chess.