For centuries, Chinese painters and poets, inspired by the beauty and resilience of nature's flora, have imbued particular flowers and plants with auspicious meaning and literary resonance. Plum blossom, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo, collectively known as the 'Four Gentlemen', for instance, are said to embody the virtues and high ideals of a Confucian scholar or gentleman.

Celebrating the beauty and symbolism of the 'Four Gentlemen', Royal Selangor has come up with a new collection of eight pewter items for the home. Finely sculpted in low-relief and crafted in satin finished pewter, the collection is a tribute to noble virtues that still hold true during this modern age.

The plum blossom, able to withstand the cold of winter, symbolizes perseverance, courage and willpower, while the orchid, admired for its beauty and fragrance, represents a perfect cultured individual.

Pliant yet strong, the bamboo is seen as resilient and humble; its nodes on the stem mark its continuous growth, likened to man's pursuit of excellence.

A flower of autumn that blooms at a time of tranquillity, harvest and abundance, the chrysanthemum is said to personify simplicity, honesty and perfection.

As plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are also affiliated to the four seasons - winter, spring, summer and autumn respectively, the collection brings to mind nature's perpetual cycle of change throughout the year.

Reflecting this rich symbolism of the collection is a Chinese poem engraved behind the plaque entitled 'An Ode to the Gentlemen'.

The Four Gentlemen collection comprises plaque, plate, tumbler, bowl together with vases and tea caddies in two sizes.