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Lladro Figurines

2008-07-13T07:17:00.003-07:00

High Porcelain By Lladro Porcelain

2008-07-13T07:17:00.001-07:00

The arrival of The Queen Of The Nile marks the opening of a new category, High Porcelain, in which from now on, you will find sculptures that are the highest expression of Lladro’s creativity.

At our High Porcelain workshop, Lladro’s artists create sculptures that stand as the highest example of the traditional values of expressiveness – beauty and technical perfection with which the Lladro family has always strived to endow its creations. These standards of quality and virtuosity inevitably mean extremely limited production. Thus the High Porcelain pieces will be issued in very low Limited Editions; in some cases sculptures will be unique – expressly and exclusively commissioned for very special clients. In each case, we will attempt to achieve the very highest standards of artistic expression available to porcelain as a medium.

Summing up, with each High Porcelain creation, Lladro will rise above a challenge and dispaly mastery of artistic skill. Without a doubt, The Queen of The Nile is one of the most ambitious works ever underetaken by Lladro – a spectacular composition nearly five feet in length recreating a magnificent Egyptian sailing vessel.

A historic landmark in the art of porcelain, which is on a much grander scale than great sculptures such as The XVIIIth Century Carriage, Cinderella’s Arrival or The Great Adventure. The technical specifications of this magnificent Lladro sculpture relate to its outstanding dimensions: five years of design and development, a twelve strong team of artists and artisans, four hundred hours of painting and three hundred and eighty two fragments of fine Lladro porcelain to compose the entire sculpture.

The ornamental wealth of Ancient Egypt is recreated with surprising exactness in this most magnificent of lladro sculptures: the textures of the fabrics, the encrustations of precious stones, the jewels worn by the characters, the exquisite decoration of the vessel itself and the hieroglyphics, all of which reproduce those in use in ancient times.

Several orders have already been taken for this most stunning of Lladro Porcelain sculptures. It might not be a surprise to hear that interest has been greatest from the palaces of the Middle East, although one delivery has been made to St. Petersburg.

If you’re undecided as to whether or not to place your order, just pop over to the Lladro City of Porcelain in Valencia and there you will be able to view this most stunning of fine china sculptures for yourself.

If you’ve never visited Valencia, it’s a trip well worth making. As well as being the home of Lladro, it is also the most beautiful and historic of cities in its own right. The blending of the old with the new is truly a wonder to behold. Last year the city hosted The Admiral’s Cup and for months the view across the bay was lit up by the myriad of magnificent ocean going sailing boats – of which the most magnificent of all, was of course, the boat from China sponsored by Lladro Porcelain.

By: Stephen Church

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Church's China, one of the United Kingdom's longest established China and Glass Retailers was founded in 1848 by a wheelright and carpenter, Thomas Church. He set up his business in Maryport Street in the sleepy market town of Devizes in Wiltshire. To explore our range of Lladro collectibles further, please visit our website at www.theukgiftcompany.co.uk For further information, please visit our website at www.theuk

2007-10-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

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Lladro: A Porcelain Marvel

2007-09-19T18:18:00.000-07:00

Humble Beginnings

The first Lladró figurines can be traced back to 1953 to a small workshop in the rural village of Almácera, Spain near Valencia. Three brothers: Juan, José and Vincente Lladró founded the company. Besides the figurines that define the company now, the brothers crafted jugs, vases and decorative plates. A Professional Training School, the Grant Centre for the City of Porcelain, was founded in 1962 to train the next generation of craftsman.

International Expansion

Starting in 1965, the company expanded beyond Spain when North Americans traveling to Spain started to import the figurines. In 1988, the Lladró Museum and Gallery was opened in New York City and distribution to Australia began. In 1997, a Lladró Centre was opened in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive. The Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas saw a Lladró Centre open in 1999. In 2000, Sydney Australia was the site of another stand alone Lladró Centre.

Logo Evolution

Changes to any logo are important to a collector because they help to identify the age of a piece. In the beginning, the Lladró brothers personally signed their names to their work. These signatures were incised. The first logo was a representation of the Greek sculpture called “Winged Samothrace”. As the company evolved and expanded internationally, the next logo was a stylized version of the bellflower, local to the region, along with an ancient chemical symbol and the Lladró name below it. In the 1960’s, the word “Spain” was added. The marks during this time were standardized and incised. Adding the word “Spain” was precipitated by the increased role exporting was playing to the company. By the 1970’s, a trademark was developed; the familiar blue stamp. In 1974, the accent over the “o” was added. In 1986, the chemical symbol and the typeface were simplified. Using this information, a collector can look at a piece and get an idea of its age.

Building Loyalty

Early on, Lladró understood the value of cultivating loyal customers. In 1985, The Collectors Society was created for customers to interact through events and communications from the company. At a variety of events, in a number of countries, over 100,000 avid collectors continue to meet and share their passion. In 2001, a new level of membership was introduced – Lladró Privilege and a more exclusive Gold level. For a yearly membership fee, Lladró aficionados receive updates on the latest news from the company and are invited to participate in social and cultural events at venues around the world. In 2005, Lladró sponsored a team in the 32nd Americas Cup sailing regatta. Privilege Gold Members were invited to join a VIP boat, have access to the team headquarters and more behind-the-scenes perks.

Fakes

Pay attention to marks. If they are not in line with the evolution of the logo, it may be a fake. Lladró figurines are known for their unique facial characteristics. It is one of the attractions to these collectibles. Authentic Lladrós do not use black to outline the eyes, brows and lids. If these areas are outlined in black, it is likely a fake. The company also started a more modest line called Nao, which should not be confused with the Lladró line.

Most Valuable

Fewer matte glazes were produced, so they are more valuable. Very early Lladrós (1950’s – 1970’s) had a creamy finish and command steep prices. Early on, the company understood the importance of creating limited editions and retiring designs, which creates scarcity that increases the value. In 1982, The Sculptures series was introduced but with a very few produced again increasing their value.

Damage

Any damage reduces the value considerably. Look for damage on any of the protruding areas (hands, arms etc) or the delicate flowers.

Finishes

Lladrós are sealed with one of three finishes: a high gloss, matte glaze and “gres” finish.

Museums

The importance of Lladró craftsmanship is evident in the fact that Lladró creations are included in the permanent collections of the Brussels Royal Museum of Art and History, The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia and the Modern Art Museum in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Lladró Today

From the small workshop in a rural village, the company has expanded to over 2,000 people working for the company today. Fine porcelains by Lladró are sold in over 100 countries in more than 4,000 retail locations. Retired Lladrós can be found on ebay and at antique shops.

Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, an antique shop located in Toronto, Canada. He does furniture restoration, caning and rushing repairs, upholstery, teaches courses on antiques and does appraisals for estates and community events. He can be reached at 416-785-4555 or by visiting http://www.takeaboo.com

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