n潞 2 2012
In love with Lladr贸
EXPRESSIONS 路 1
“We want our works to have elegance, to be expressive, to exude life, to have feelings. We want them to reflect the good side of life, the positive values of a human being, all that which dignifies life.”
Juan, José and Vicente, founders of Lladró
Juan Lladró and his daughters Rosa and Ángeles.
SHARING HOPES AND DREAMS The best gift at Christmas time is to be able to share the holiday with our loved ones. This is the hope that runs through our minds as we get everything ready: decorating the home, preparing the dinner table and turning on the Christmas lights. At Lladró, as always, we wish to join you in celebrating the holiday. Whether it is our Christmas ornaments and lithophane votive lights, the limited edition A romantic Christmas, our stellar piece this season, or the new pieces in the Naturofantastic collection for l’art de la table, the full decorative potential of our creations comes into its own at this time of year. The Lladró Gold Club also sends its own Christmas greeting in the form of the two lovable cherubs in Celestial balcony, the new limited edition premiere piece for members of our online club. In addition, other Lladró new issues invite us to discover the ornamental possibilities of porcelain. Vases, lamps, boxes and mirrors find their place alongside classic figurines and gres sculptures, with styles ranging from pure romanticism to a taste for the orient. For lovers of classic Lladró, Eternal Lladró revisits the exquisite pieces in the brand’s historic catalogue which have served as a source of inspiration for the new piece Japanese garden. In this issue, as expected, the artists at the High Porcelain workshop continue to show us what they are capable of with three truly impressive pieces, Goddess Lakshmi, Ladies from Aranjuez vase and Winged beauty. Lladró travels around the world to share its passion for porcelain with lovers of the brand, organizing a series of social gatherings featured in our Lladró Universe section. Because Christmas is a time for hopes and dreams, we here at Lladró want to send you our very best wishes for the New Year. 2013 is a very special year for us because we will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the birth of Lladró. So, with renewed hope, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.
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LLADRÓ > President: Rosa Lladró Sala · Vice-president: Ángeles Lladró Sala · Managing Director: Fernando Gallego · Marketing Director: José Ramón Esparza · Editor: María Rosaleny Coordination & Design: Gabriel Borràs · Collaborators > Photography and Styling: Manuel Artero, Rafa Fierres, Josep Gil, Peris&Co · Layout & printing: LaGráfica ISG · Depósito legal: V-3126-2008
2 · EXPRESSIONS
LLADRÓ GOLD CLUB PREMIERE PIECE
CELESTIAL BALCONY
celestial balcony [22 x 27 cm, 8 3/4" x 10 3/4"] Ref. 01008590 Limited edition of 2,000 pieces
The story goes that every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings and looks down happily from heaven. It is precisely this kindly, good-natured aspect of little angels that is captured in the new Lladró Gold Club limited edition. Celestial balcony is launched as the premiere piece exclusively for members. Inspired by the famous putti (literally boy or child in Italian) painted by Raphael in 1513 in his “The Sistine Madonna”, the sweet expressions of the cherubs in Celestial balcony are further enhanced by their rosy cheeks. Oblivious to all evil, they are innocently leaning on a balustrade. The balcony itself is also noteworthy given the challenge it required from the Lladró artists due to the usual shrinkage of porcelain during the firing process in the kiln. The
balcony is rounded off by a vine with handcrafted flowers whose brightly colored petals contrast with the fairness of the little angels. Celestial balcony is a perfect example of a Lladró creation that transmit a message of happiness as universal as it is timeless, a message that has captivated entire generations of admirers of the brand all over the world. Premiere access to this limited edition is one of the benefits of belonging to Lladró Gold Club, an online site offering members direct personalized communication via e-mail through www.lladrogold.com. If you are still not a member of this exclusive club, you can discover how to join on our website and make the most of all the benefits of membership.
EXPRESSIONS · 3
CHRISTMAS TOGETHER
a romantic christmas [35 x 28 cm, 13 3/4" x 11"] Ref. 01008665 Limited edition of 2,000 pieces Base included
4 路 EXPRESSIONS
holidays
teddy bear (re-deco)
little roadster (re-deco)
[10 x 5 cm, 4" x 2"] Ref. 01018370
[8 x 7 cm, 3 1/4" x 2 3/4"] Ref. 01018368
train (re-deco)
home sweet home (re-deco)
[11 x 6 cm, 4 1/4" x 2 1/4"] Ref. 01018371
[12 x 6 cm, 4 3/4" x 2 1/4"] Ref. 01018372
Christmas is a time to dedicate ourselves to what really matters, our family and friends... As we prepare for the holiday Lladró creations help us to give our home a festive spirit. The pre-eminent piece in our selection is the limited edition A romantic Christmas, a contemporary scene that captures the magical spirit of Christmas Eve. The bright colors are reinforced by the elegant golden lacquered base that matches the star that tops the tree. In addition, we have the classic balls and bells which are joined this year by other original ornaments decorated with golden luster. Celestial melody, our new tree topper, and the Lladró ornament bear, created in collaboration with the German
teddy bear makers, Steiff, are also embellished with the golden finish. Providing the musical entertainment for the occasion we have Violinist bear, who is playing the love theme from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet with his porcelain violin decorated with platinum luster. This feast of music and colors would not be complete without lights, which find their best expression in our lithophane votives. Lit by candles or LEDs, the light shining inside, combined with the transparency of the porcelain brings out the scenes etched on the surface, creating a magical effect as seen in our Santa Claus lithopane.
EXPRESSIONS · 5
Lladró · steiff violinist bear
Lladró · steiff ornament bear
[26 x 16 cm, 10 1/4" x 6 1/4"] Ref. 01040098 Limited edition of 1,000 pieces
[16 x 12 cm, 6 1/4" x 4 3/4"] Ref. 01040099 Limited edition of 1,000 pieces
2012 christmas bell (re-deco) [9 x 8 cm, 3 1/2" x 3 1/4"] Ref. 01018359
2012 christmas ball (re-deco) [11 x 9 cm, 4 1/4" x 3 1/2"] Ref. 01018357
2012 christmas bell [9 x 8 cm, 3 1/2" x 3 1/4"] Ref. 01018358
2012 christmas ball [11 x 9 cm, 4 1/4" x 3 1/2"] Ref. 01018356
6 · EXPRESSIONS
holidays
litophane votive light santa claus [12 x 9 cm, 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"] Ref. 01017340
litophane votive light nativity [12 x 9 cm, 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"] Ref. 01017323
celestial melody (tree topper) (re-deco) [21 x 9 cm, 8 1/4" x 3 1/2"] Ref. 01007728
EXPRESSIONS 路 7
eternal Lladró
Juan Lladró
Creations with Japanese themes and their exquisite attention to detail have always been a challenge for our artists. Juan Lladró gives us a brief overview of some of the brand’s historical creations that have marked the path to follow in its ongoing search for perfection in details. Eternal Lladrós that he himself treasures in his own private collection and which have served as inspiration for new creations like Japanese garden.
8 · EXPRESSIONS
GRACEFUL OFFERING
KIYOKO
[30 cm, 11 3/4"] Ref. 01005773 Lladró Museum Collection piece
[18 cm, 7 1/2""] Ref. 01001450 Lladró Museum Collection piece
oriental garden [53 x 100 cm, 20 3/4" x 39 1/4"] Ref. 01001775 Limited edition of 750 pieces Base included
In the East, owning a piece of porcelain has traditionally been considered a sign of prestige. The special sensibility and the exquisite finish of oriental art have long captivated western artists. Ever ready to take on new challenges, since its beginnings Lladró has always risen to the occasion of achieving the perfection proper to the best porcelain. The results can be appreciated in pieces like those now being presented by Juan Lladró, who is “proud to have taken on this risky challenge and have come out so well”. This is no vain boast, but a personal commitment that can be seen in the Japanese collection created by the sculptor Salvador Debón (1923-2008) which Juan Lladró has in his private collection. The pieces presented here come from various series made by the same artist.
They are delicately wrought pieces which, as the eldest of the Lladró brothers maintains, “are noteworthy for the fine balance between the simple composition and the painstaking decoration that rounds off the piece as a whole, showcasing the sculptor’s exquisite sensibility”. Another feature of oriental art is the importance it lends to decoration, especially in natural landscapes. This aspect is worth underscoring in pieces like Oriental garden, a complex composition including up to ten different characters and a large variety of flowers. While the scene revolves around a highly realistic bridge, it also includes an abundant Japanese pine tree as well as fawns and herons, paying homage to the significance of nature in Japanese culture.
A worthy successor to this theme is Japanese garden, a new issue that stands out for its simplicity and authenticity. Though with a more contemporary aesthetic, it is inspired by the annual Japanese festival Shichi-Go-San, held every year on November 15th, in which parents take their three- and seven-year-old daughters to the temple to bless them and pray for a long and healthy life. The austere minimalism of the Zen garden and the lineal forms of the original base, which also acts as a frame, serve as a counterpoint to the filigree work in the kimonos. In short, as Juan Lladró says, “we are talking about pieces that are a real treat for the eye”. These creations contain a host of details speaking to the aesthetic and spiritual wealth that has seduced the West.
japanese garden [29 x 37 cm, 11 1/2" x 14 1/2"] Ref. 01008640 Base included
EXPRESSIONS · 9
HIGH PORCELAIN
AN EXALTATION OF FREEDOM
10 路 EXPRESSIONS
HIGH PORCELAIN
This new High Porcelain creation depicts a sensual female creature inspired by the sumptuousness of Greco-Roman mythological goddesses and adorned with rich jewelry an theatrical wings that emulate the majestic and indulgent decadence of a peacock’s plumage. The peacock has been a recurring element in different cultures throughout the centuries, associated with various symbolic attributes. Because of its exceptional beauty, some cultures believed this bird to be a symbol of vanity, pride and arrogance. Others, however, thought it was an incarnation of good luck, harmony and serenity. In this High Porcelain creation, the exceptional amount of intricate detail in the feathers, as well as the opulent decorative treatment, accentuates its association with luxury and eternal beauty. To achieve this unique result, a variety of different techniques were used, including the application of assorted enamels, especially greens, blues and ocher’s, as well as colored varnishes and metal luster. To round off this whole play of shades and ranges of
color, gilded effects were also added by means of aged golden luster on the convoluted elements coming out of the wings. These elements, combined with the movement of the wavy bond hair evoking the blowing of the wind, add dynamism to the piece and give the sculpture an organic feel that reminds us of an art nouveau fin de siècle aesthetic. In addition to the wings, it is worth highlighting the crown and earrings in the piece. The artists at the High Porcelain workshop have developed and created a special luster, a new color in the Lladró palette, with a mother-ofpearl effect that gives them the appearance of true jewels. These profusely ornamented accessories and the colorful decoration contrast with the woman’s smooth pale skin finished in glazed porcelain. This winning combination of the purity of the nude and decorative abundance, of austerity and excess, is particularly attractive in this exceptional demonstration of artistic virtuosity.
winged beauty [44 x 81 cm, 17 1/4" x 32"] Ref. 01001956 Limited edition of 750 pieces Base included
EXPRESSIONS · 11
HIGH PORCELAIN
ROMANTICISM IN HIGH PORCELAIN Five ladies stand out against a leafy garden. Three different depictions, an arbor, willows and lush vegetation… How is it possible to combine so many scenes in one single piece? The artists at the Lladró High Porcelain workshop have surprised us yet again. And this time in the form of a vase. The Ladies from Aranjuez vase takes its name from the cultural landscape of the Spanish town of Aranjuez, famous for its Royal Palace and its gardens, which inspired Joaquín Rodrigo to compose his celebrated Concierto de Aranjuez. With this vase Lladró returns to the theme of romanticism and raises it to the category of High Porcelain. In a complex treatment of depth, five ladies stand out in relief in the foreground, surrounding the vase and creating five different scenes. In the background one can notice the lush vegetation of a garden in bloom with the arches of the arbor providing the ladies with shelter. A true virtuoso display of technique due to the large number of fragments required for the composition. The sense of depth is achieved thanks to the decorative techniques used, especially the painting pastes which provide each element with the required thickness or transparency. For instance, while the dresses are full and billowing as one would expect from the period, the porcelain in the parasols is so thin that modeling them is painstakingly complex. The palette is another added value, with each lady decorated in her own range of colors matching the vegetation in which one can note bougainvillea, used for the first time in a Lladró piece, and roses, one of the brand’s signature elements. Crowned with an elegant lid, the vase is worthy of being admired in detail from all angles. An exclusive piece to be thoroughly appreciated by the most discerning High Porcelain lover.
12 · EXPRESSIONS
HIGH PORCELAIN
ladies from aranjuez vase [62 x 28 cm, 24 1/2" x 11"] Ref. 01001968 Limited edition of 1,000 pieces Base included
EXPRESSIONS 路 13
HIGH PORCELAIN
goddess lakshmi [48 x 32 cm, 19" x 12 1/2"] Ref. 01001966 Limited edition of 720 pieces Base included
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HIGH PORCELAIN
THE GODDESS OF FORTUNE “The righteous Lakshmi adorns her veils with the new sacred signs” is how the Hindu goddess of good fortune, happiness and beauty is described in the Ramayana, one of the great Sanskrit epics of ancient India. That is how the artists at the Lladró High Porcelain workshop have depicted her, decorated in accordance to her divine status. Seated on a large lotus flower, Lakshmi showers her devotees with gold coins to bless them with her riches, while she is holding in her hands the lotus flower buds that symbolize beauty, purity and fertility. Lakshmi is the Mother Goddess, the consort of Vishnu, the Creator God in Hindu philosophy, and is depicted by Lladró artists as the goddess of good fortune, of material and spiritual prosperity. That quality connects with the ornamental abundance of this new High Porcelain creation, in which everything is highly worked and defined in minute detail to underscore her majesty. From the splendid haloed crown to her luxurious robes, headdress and jewelry as well as the floral decoration of the complex flower garland. Even the nose-stud that Lakshmi is usually depicted with has been reproduced here, though further embellished with a
diamond, used for the first time in a High Porcelain piece. Lladró’s wide spectrum of colors and the complex decorative techniques used by its artists accomplished the rest, bringing life to those velvety reds and metallic golds with a rich combination of gloss and matte finishes, to which the deep blue provides an elegant note of contrast. And so, the masters in the Lladró workshops have succeeded in conveying the profound spirituality of this goddess and her halo of divine happiness. Her rosy pink complexion reflects compassion for all creatures, and the soft make-up highlights her delicate feminine features and assertive gaze. Even the pedestal has been conceived expressly as if to replicate the steps of a temple altar, reinforcing the image of this deity, so widely worshiped.
EXPRESSIONS · 15
new iss ues 20 12
UNIVERSAL EMOTIONS
Icons of Christianity, collections featuring sacred animals, lithophane votive lights with spiritual messages and oriental vases are joining more recognizable pieces in Lladró's second introductions of new issues for 2012. These new pieces are added to the classics creations in glazed porcelain, such as In my garden and Daydreaming by the pond, or in gres with Whispers from the sea and the
white matte piece Swing for the fences. The Estratos collection and the additions to the Naturofantstic collection are innovative as well as functional. Our series inspired by the Hindu culture and the new additions to The Guest by Lladró Atelier, further exemplify Lladró's wide ranges of creativity. Decoration is also a strong feature in the new oriental vases, in the delicate Balinese dancers
and in the mythological creatures with their profound symbolism. In vibrant red, deep blue, elegant silver and shiny gold inspired by cultures from all over the world, they are all hand painted with the steady, expert hands of Lladró artists. An ode to the wealth and variety of different cultures, this is an introduction that proves, once again, that the emotions aroused by Lladró creations are universal.
in my garden [25 x 18 cm, 9 3/4" x 7"] Ref. 01008663
16 · EXPRESSIONS
new issues
romanesque christ [59 x 27 cm, 23 1/4" x 10 3/4"] Ref. 01001969 Limited edition of 1,000 pieces Base included EXPRESSIONS 路 17
padmasana buddha [18 x 12 cm, 7" x 4 3/4"] Ref. 01008567 Base included
LITHOPHANE VOTIVE LIGHT LORD GANESHA [12 x 9 cm, 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"] Ref. 01017318
18 路 EXPRESSIONS
LITHOPHANE VOTIVE LIGHT - om [12 x 9 cm, 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"] Ref. 01017335
LITHOPHANE VOTIVE LIGHT goddess lakshmi [12 x 9 cm, 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"] Ref. 01017339
new issues
Inspired by the wealth of Hindu iconography, the realism of the sacred animals atop these pieces is combined with geometric forms and decorated with detailed floral ornamentation.
monkey vase
elephant box
peacock lamp
[41 x 22 cm, 16 1/4" x 8 3/4"] Ref. 01009012
[26 x 14 cm, 10 1/4" x 5 1/2"] Ref. 01009013
[41 x 25 cm, 16 1/4" x 9 3/4"] CE Ref. 01009014 UK Ref. 01009015 USA Ref. 01009016
EXPRESSIONS 路 19
Whispers from the sea [47 x 32 cm, 18 1/2" x 12 1/2"] Ref. 01012549
20 路 EXPRESSIONS
new issues
Classically inspired sculptural nudes and romantic scenes in pure Lladr贸 style.
daydreaming by the pond [30 x 49 cm, 11 3/4" x 19 1/4"] Ref. 01008664 Limited edition of 1,500 pieces Base included
EXPRESSIONS 路 21
Intense colors and auspicious forms that speak of thousand-year-old cultures.
22 路 EXPRESSIONS
oriental vase (blue)
oriental vase (red)
[54 x 26 cm, 21 1/4" x 10 1/4"] Ref. 01001955 Limited edition of 250 pieces Base included
[54 x 26 cm, 21 1/4" x 10 1/4"] Ref. 01001954 Limited edition of 250 pieces Base included
new issues lION POUNCING [29 x 31 cm, 11 1/2" x 12 1/4"] Ref. 01008656
THE SNAKE
HOPTOAD
[19 x 18 cm, 7 1/2" x 7"] Ref. 01008614 Limited edition of 1,888 pieces Base included
[19 x 19 cm, 7 1/2" x 7 1/2"] Ref. 01008660 Limited edition of 3,000 pieces
EXPRESSIONS 路 23
new issues
bali dancer (re-deco)
bali dancer kneeling (re-deco)
[33 x 17 cm, 13" x 6 3/4"] Ref. 01008643
[23 x 11 cm, 9" x 4 1/4"] Ref. 01008644
hina dolls 2012 [26 x 41 cm, 10 1/4" x 16 1/4"] Ref. 01008624 Limited edition of 3,500 pieces Base included
24 路 EXPRESSIONS
romantic serenade [49 x 70 cm, 19 1/4" x 27 1/2"] Ref. 01008596 Limited edition of 1,000 pieces
egyptian geese [26 x 58 cm, 10 1/4" x 22 3/4"] Ref. 01012548 Limited edition of 2,000 pieces Base included
EXPRESSIONS 路 25
surgeon [33 x 20 cm, 13" x 7 3/4"] Ref. 01008657
Pieces that express universal emotions make the best gift for special occasions.
a gift of lillies [25 x 10 cm, 9 3/4" x 4"] Ref. 01008584
pleasant breeze [21 x 13 cm, 8 1/4" x 5"] Ref. 01008585 26 路 EXPRESSIONS
swing for the fences [49 x 30 cm, 19 1/4" x 11 3/4"] Ref. 01008627 Base included
EXPRESSIONS 路 27
28 路 EXPRESSIONS
If there is one time of the year when the dinner table takes on special importance, it is unquestionably Christmas and the holiday season. The perfect time for getting together with our loved ones around the dinner table. What better way to celebrate than with elegant, exclusive objects with unique designs and coloring, found in the Naturofantastic collection. These new additions to Lladró’s original dinner service include a centerpiece, tray, appetizer plates, bottle stoppers and salt and pepper shakers. Created in gres and decorated in a striking black shade, it is also available in white porcelain, white with golden luster and in shades of green, blue and grey. The series also includes vases, plates, bowls, cocktail glasses, egg cups and even candelabras and lamps to light up the best get-togethers. The pieces in this collection combine organic and fantastic elements. Everyday items are decorated with marine and vegetal motifs born from the imagination of Lladró artists who create exclusive pieces for l’art de la table or to be used as original centerpieces. The new pieces allow for attractive combinations that add even more decorative potential to this elegant dinner service. With Naturofantastic, the dinner table is laid to perfection. HANGING LAMP (GOLDEN) [20 x 10 cm, 7 3/4" x 4"] Ref. 01007933
centerpiece (black)
tray (black)
bottle stopper i
[17 x 42 cm, 6 3/4" x 16 1/2"] Ref. 01007965
[7 x 58 cm, 2 3/4" x 22 3/4"] Ref. 01007966
[6 x 6 cm, 2 1/4" x 2 1/4"] Ref. 01007998
appetizer plate (black)
salt & pepper shakers (black)
[4 x 19 cm, 1 1/2" x 7 1/2"] Ref. 01007967
[10 x 12 cm, 4" x 4 3/4"] Ref. 01007968
bottle stopper ii [9 x 7 cm, 3 1/2" x 2 3/4"] Ref. 01007999
EXPRESSIONS · 29
Two new guests are now joining The Guest collection. They are The Black Guest and The White Guest, two stark yet highly elegant versions of the unique character created by Jaime Hayon for Lladr贸 Atelier. The Guest project invites groundbreaking artists from around the world to create a distinctive personality for this original porcelain being. The first results were the pieces signed by Tim Biskup, Devilrobots and Jaime Hayon. The Guest open collection continues to maintain its original vision of exceptional decorative potential with new pieces, now in black and white.
The White Guest - Big [52 x 19 cm, 20 1/2" x 7 1/2"] Ref. 01007277 Base included
The black Guest - Big [52 x 19 cm, 20 1/2" x 7 1/2"] Ref. 01007282 Base included 30 路 EXPRESSIONS
THE PARROT PARTY
The birds in The Parrot Party are chirpier than ever because this launch adds three new pieces to the collection featuring parakeets, lovebirds and cockatoos. This time the cute birds are perched on a vase, a tray and a vanity mirror, decorated in attractive colors ranging from vibrant yellow to pure white and the always elegant black. Created in 2009 within Lladró Atelier, the brand’s laboratory of ideas, The Parrot Party collection captures the spirit of this studio
conceived to foster the creativity of the brand’s designers. Originality and preciosity go hand in hand in a series of objects of refined functional forms which contrast with the minute decoration of the birds decorating them. The plumage of the different species of the birds has been reproduced down to the tiniest detail. The birds seem to come to life, perched on the branches attached to the pieces. Design and craftsmanship at the service of creativity.
parrot vanity [37 x 27 cm, 14 1/2" x 10 3/4"] Ref. 01007849
parrot treasure [27 x 25 cm, 10 3/4" x 9 3/4"] Ref. 01007847
parrot romance [29 x 41 cm, 11 1/2" x 16 1/4"] Ref. 01007848
EXPRESSIONS · 31
The strata we find in Nature and its many layers are the creative concept behind this collection of vases, boxes and lamps. Lladr贸 is presenting Estratos in two different decorations, one in a spectrum of green and the other in a spectrum of burgundy. The cubic shapes of the pieces contrast with the curved lines that seem to surround the core like layers and strata. The objects in the collection come in different versions, not just in color, but also in size, thus increasing their decorative potential and opening up possibilities for winning combinations. For example, the vase comes in three sizes (small, medium and large), while the lamp is available in two formats (tall and short). The complex painting process required special colors to achieve the flat ink effect on the surface of the pieces. The insides of the vases and boxes are also glazed with bright colors chosen to contrast with the decorative range of each series. The
small vase (green) [14 x 12 cm, 5 1/2" x 4 3/4"] Ref. 01009050
medium vase (burgundy) [25 x 14 cm, 9 3/4" x 5 1/2"] Ref. 01009061
32 路 EXPRESSIONS
same applies to the silver or golden insides of the lampshades, designed specifically for these pieces, with the curved corners matching the design of the Estratos collection. A playful touch is added with the circle where the strata come together, featured on all the faces of the pieces, decorated with golden luster for the green version and in silver for the burgundy version. In the end, everything matches in the decoration of this original collection of objects which are sure to attract a great deal of attention.
EXPRESSIONS 路 33
Left to right: Ximo Tébar, Rosa Lladró, Kenny Barron, David Sanborn and Michel Camilo.
Emotive events with Rosa Lladró and jazz greats in New York Nightfall in New York, and the sound of jazz wafts from the Lladró Boutique. So far, nothing surprising. Until we come face to face with three of the best jazz musicians of all times: the legendary pianist Kenny Barron, the pianist and composer Michel Camilo and the saxophonist David Sanborn. At a unique event held in March, Rosa Lladró paid tribute to these renowned musicians with a special version of the Jazz Trio figurine decorated in white. To add further emotion to an unforgettable soiree, the 200 plus guests who attended the event were able to enjoy performances by the Valencian jazz guitarist Ximo Tébar, pianist Jim Ridl, bass player John Benítez and drummer Donald Edwards.
Façade of Lladró Boutique in New York lit up especially for the occasion.
During this special evening, Rosa Lladró praised the work of The Jazz Foundation of America and donated part of the evening’s sales to this not-for-profit organization which helps elderly jazz and blues musicians in times of need. Following this event, the President of Lladró traveled to Florida and California to meet lovers of the brand at more signing events featuring the special version of Jazz Trio. Once again the guests had a chance to discover Lladró’s new creations while enjoying live jazz.
Against a jazz backdrop, everyone alike gathered for Rosa Lladró’s events in Florida and California.
34 · EXPRESSIONS
A spectacular white Steinway & Sons piano was the focal point of the event in New York.
Lladró Universe Japan surrenders to beauty on Ángeles Lladró’s tour Ángeles Lladró traveled to Japan last March on a tour called Inherited Beauty, exploring the brand’s legacy of almost six decades. During the signing events held in Matsuyama, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo and Tokyo, the company’s Vice-president expressed to attendees her wish to uphold the tradition begun by her father and uncles in 1953, while taking on new challenges as well. Entire families, sometimes including three generations and babies, attended at the events
to have Ángeles Lladró sign their favorite piece. Given the time of year, the most popular creations were Warrior boy and Samurai helmet, pieces that Japanese parents give as gifts to their sons on Boy’s Day, celebrated on May 5th. On this day figurines of warriors are displayed in homes where there is a new son in the family.
members of the Lladró family. For some, it was the perfect occasion to add one of the monumental High Porcelain pieces signed by Ángeles Lladró to their collection. And that comes as no surprise, given that they represent to perfection the maximum artistic expression of this inherited beauty after almost sixty years of the brand’s ongoing evolution.
Ángeles Lladró shared the enthusiasm of the public on a tour which also attracted Lladró collectors that never miss the chance to meet A family poses with Ángeles Lladró and the Samurai helmet purchased in Tokyo as a gift for their baby.
Warrior boy also won a lot of admirers during the event in Osaka.
Ángeles Lladró poses with a collector who purchased the High Porcelain piece Cinderella’s Arrival in Fukuoka. Lladró classics also had their unconditional fans on this tour, like this young woman in Matsuyama.
Ángeles Lladró during her speech at the event in Tokyo.
EXPRESSIONS · 35
Lladró Universe Lladró setting trends in interior design The fact that Lladró is setting trends in interior design can be seen in the excellent impression our new collections made in various interiors and design events. Ranging from Maison et Objet in Paris last January to the Boffo Show House in New York in May, the new introductions also toured Ambiente in Frankfurt, Interlübke in Wiedenbrück, Baselworld in Basel, NUDE in Milan or the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York. An army of bold, daring Guests was lined up at these fairs alongside other collections like Estratos or the new series inspired by Hindu culture, as well as classic time-honored Lladrós without forgetting
Pieces from the Metropolis collection at the Astoria Palace, one of Valencia’s most emblematic hotels.
the truly impressive High Porcelain creations. The new pieces were also showcased in temporary exhibitions in the decorative settings of hotels and galleries. For instance, the Dieci Rosso gallery in Florence proved the ideal platform for showcasing the Niagara Chandelier at an event that attracted the who’s who of interior design in the capital of Tuscany. Meanwhile, the Astoria Hotel in Valencia featured the Metropolis collection in the decoration of one of its special ambiences for the presentation of Astoria&Friends, its new cultural meeting place. Likewise, the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo exhibited 200 Lladró works over a period of one month in an exhibition exploring
The Guest by Lladró Atelier collection in the original Lladró booth at Maison et Objet.
the use of porcelain and textiles in decoration. Some of the hotel’s special suites were decorated with Lladró creations and luxurious fabrics from brands like William Morris as part of a program that also included special cocktails and menus inspired by Lladró. Guests at the Tokiwa Hotel, also in Tokyo, had an opportunity to admire Lladró creations in the fabulous surroundings of its gardens. Viewing Hina Dolls in the backdrop of a natural landscape or Cherub of love picking the petals of a daisy one by one in the midst of the garden were some of the scenes demonstrating how Lladró works fit in to perfection in all kinds of ambiences, both indoor and outdoor.
Over 300 porcelain butterflies in the Niagara Chandelier lit up an event in Florence.
For the third year running, Lladró presented its new High Porcelain issues at Baselworld. Lladró new introductions at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair of New York, a benchmark for design in the USA.
The new pair of Hina Dolls at the Tokiwa Hotel in Tokyo.
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Lladró made its debut at the Interlübke fair in the German town of Wiedenbrück, with original objects like this vanity mirror.
Lladró Universe Touring with The Guest They are not a rock band, but earlier this year the six members of The Guest by Lladró Atelier collection set out on a tour of major cities. The first stop was in February in Tokyo, the hometown of Devilrobots, the studio which conceived the decoration of one of the pairs of Guests. In the well-known galleries La Collezione, Jaime Hayon, the Spanish designer of the original character, and Shinichiro Kitai, from Devilrobots, spoke to the 150-strong audience at the event about their experiences and how much fun it was working on this project. Next up was the USA, where the Guests traveled with Rosa Lladró to Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago in March. Tim Biskup, another of the
artists invited to collaborate in this project, also attended the Unici Casa event in Los Angeles. The artist’s proof version of the Guest he decorated for the collection was present at all three shows; Avant Gallery in Miami, in the heart of South Beach, the spectacular Unici Casa in Los Angeles and the exclusive Haute Living furniture store in Chicago. All three events provided wonderful backdrops for showcasing the collection’s bright and colorful pieces. Afterwards these intrepid explorers traveled to Italy in April to take part in Spazio Hayon, as part of the program for the International Furniture Fair in Milan. Then on to Madrid, where they took part in the opening of Experimenta_academy, an
Left to right, the American artist Gary Baseman, Rosa Lladró, the owner of Unici Casa Michael Foroutan and Tim Biskup.
advanced training laboratory run by well-known publishers and a new meeting place for artists in design. The Guests’ spring tour ended in May in Moscow, where the collection was the centerpiece of a glamorous event with celebrities, media and designers. The special guests, Tim Biskup and Shinichiro Kitai, revealed some of the secrets of the figurines, like the drop on the face of Biskup’s piece which is not actually a teardrop but a symbol of the connection with Nature; or that Kitai’s character reflects the designer’s wish to speak about traveling and roads.
The media discovered on the presence of Shinichiro Kitai and Tim Biskup in Moscow.
Members of the Devilrobots studio during the presentation of The Guest in Tokyo.
Jaime Hayon in La Collezione with the numbered series Guest he decorated for the collection.
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Lladró Universe In the best of hands Lladró sculptors had another opportunity to sense the palpable expectation among the brand’s legions of fans as they witnessed the birth of a piece. Last spring five artists went on tours to give modeling demonstrations. The first to set off was Virginia González, who was in Japan modeling The white horse of hope, a highly symbolic piece inasmuch as it represents nobility and courage in Japanese culture. For that reason it makes a popular gift for Japanese boys for the Tango no Sekku annual festival on March 5th. Next up was Raúl Rubio who traveled to India on the first tour by a Lladró artist to the country. José Santaeulalia during the event in Boca Raton (Florida).
The sculptor of the pieces Rama and Sita or the Ganesha series visited the birthplace of Hinduism, whose aesthetic has, according to the artist, many points in common with Lladró’s values. Lovers of Lladró from the USA and Canada had the chance to see José Santaeulalia in action modeling Andalusian spring, with a soundtrack provided by live Spanish guitar. Russia also had its turn, with a tour by Alfredo Llorens. Among the pieces he chose especially for his events was the emblematic Russian hero Alexander Nevski. For an hour and a half he held a captive audience who were completely enthra-
lled with watching his hands at work. Meanwhile, Francisco Polope traveled to Hong Kong, Taiwan and to continental China where the public had a chance to contemplate how Auspicious dragon and the complex High Porcelain piece Bacchante on a panther came to life. These events also included live dance performances and a particularly appreciative public, as one can see in the on-thespot portrait made by a fan or the flower modeled in plasticine presented to him by a young boy. Truly delightful events that make these tours such unforgettable experiences.
Francisco Polope’s event in Beijing featured a live dance performance inspired by Great Dragon.
The sculptor of Great Dragon received a warm welcome in Taipei. The tour took the sculptor to New York, Boca Raton, Naples, Rockville and Ontario (Canada).
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed events like this one in Ontario (Canada).
A moment during Polope’s modeling event in Hong Kong.
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Lladró Universe Virginia González at the Lladró Boutique in Tokyo.
The sculptor also had events in Daimaru, Hiroshima, Wakayama, Yokohama and Oita. Raúl Rubio during the modeling event in Mumbai.
The sculptor at the event in New Delhi.
Raúl also traveled to Kolkata, Bangladesh and Gurgaon.
The artist brought the national hero Alexander Nevski to life in Moscow.
Alfredo also visited the Russian cities of Yekaterinburg and Sochi.
Alfredo Llorens in Orenburg (Russia), where he modeled A regal steed. EXPRESSIONS · 39
Lladró Universe A Spring full of Lladró flowers
María José Bustos during the flower event in Busan.
In Seoul the artist created each petal of Flowers of the season one by one.
To mark the arrival of spring, the artists Raquel Duque and Maria José Bustos gave live demonstrations of how Lladró flowers are made, in Azerbaijan and in South Korea respectively. This was the first time Raquel Duque traveled overseas to demonstrate her art live and her destination was Baku, where over 350 guests attended the event organized by the Lladró Boutique in the lobby of the monumental Nizami Cinema Club. This young woman achieved a resounding success on her debut. In fact, Raquel is the daughter of another Lladró flower artist who, as she says herself, passed on to her the passion for this art. Meanwhile, María José Bustos went to Busan and Seoul, where she received an enthusiastic welcome on what was her fifth trip to the country known as the land of the morning calm. Both in the port city as well as the country’s capital, the events created a lot of curiosity and expectation among a large number of the brand’s fans. This is because each artist leaves her own personal stamp on the flowers, making each piece unique and unrepeatable. Another event in which Lladró flowers were in the spotlight was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Shanghai. Here, together with the wedding planning agency One-Heart Wedding, Lladró took part in the exhibition Secret Garden with a selection of pieces decorated with flowers. A total of 100 couples, future brides and grooms, attended the show in which the porcelain flowers were seamlessly blended in among natural flowers in a highly romantic decoration.
Raquel Duque chose the piece Flowers for everyone for her debut in Baku.
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A couple viewing Lladró pieces in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Shanghai.
Lladró Universe Avant-garde Lladró on display at the González Martí Museum in Valencia Ever since its inception, Lladró has always been an innovation-driven brand. And it is precisely the more experimental side of Lladró that is on display in the exhibition at the González Martí Museum of Ceramics and Sumptuary Arts in Valencia. With the title Avant-garde Lladró: Innovation from the outset, the show, on view to the public from June 14th through October 14th, has been organized jointly with Spain’s Ministry of Culture. Through fifty different
pieces, it overviews the brand’s ongoing desire to search for new artistic paths. The creative restlessness which has always characterized the Lladró brothers and which they soon passed on to the brand’s sculptors, is the focus of the first section featuring historical pieces from the Lladró Museum. The show addresses how, as part of a process of natural evolution, Lladró welcomed external artists Pablo Serrano and Amadeo Gabino in the 1980s. From 2000 onwards, it
brought on board internationally renowned creatives such as CuldeSac, Bodo Sperlein and Committee, as well as the designer Jaime Hayon, Lladró Atelier’s artistic advisor. The thousands of people who visit the celebrated museum also have a chance to see previously unseen works by the brand as well as artist’s proofs that demonstrate that Lladró has never stopped exploring new horizons in the field of porcelain.
Juan Lladró presided over the exhibition opening with his daughters Rosa and Ángeles. Far right, with a group of visitors; right, with the museum’s director, Jaume Coll, and the exhibition curator, Carmen Tarín.
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Lladró Universe Illustrious visitors at the Lladró Museum The Lladró Museum has been publicly recognized as a “cultural benchmark” in the Comunitat Valenciana by the Generalitat Valenciana’s Cultural Heritage Department. Following the official recognition, the president of the Valencian government, Alberto Fabra, visited the museum where he was welcomed by Juan Lladró and his daughters Rosa and Ángeles. In addition to visiting the exhibitions, the president, who was accompanied by the regional ministers for Culture and for Employment, Lola Johnson and María José Catalá respectively, had an opportunity to see for himself the entirely handcrafted process of creation of Lladró porcelains. With approximately 15,000 visitors a year and a passionate mission to preserve and popularize its invaluable collections of painting and porcelain, the Lladró Museum, first opened in 2006, is one of the major art centers exhibiting its work in Valencia. Another illustrious visitor was the honorary consul of Spain in Bangalore, Surbhi Sharma, who was accompanied by members of the Lladró family. Sharma, who holds various posts in India, including that of managing director of the Euro India Research Centre, was thrilled to see all the different steps in the process. One of the most moving moments for her was when she had a chance to see up close the degree of detail of the Hindu pieces, to which she is particularly attracted, especially the couple Rama and Sita.
Juan Lladró, his wife and daughters with President Alberto Fabra.
A moment during the visit to the painting collection.
Fabra watches the process of creation of the pieces.
Surbhi Sharma with Juan Lladró and his daughters Rosa and Ángeles. Ángeles Lladró with the regional ministers Lola Johnson and María José Català.
The magic of Disney inspires NAO artists NAO’s Disney collection is extended with two new princesses, Bella and Aurora, the heroines of Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty. Both pieces faithfully reproduce the characters from the unforgettable movies by the genius of cartoon films, with their unmistakable costumes, their elegant headdresses and their lovable expressions. Each princess is holding a flower, an element adding a distinctive value to these representations. In addition, in the case of Bella, the flower is the rose that the Beast carefully safeguards under a glass dome.
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hansel and gretel
collecting
What child has never dreamed of finding a house made of chocolate, cake and candy in the middle of a forest? Lladró has captured the children from the well-known German fairytale as they are about to enter the house of the wicked witch who has used sweets to lure them into her trap. The loving gesture of the two siblings, looking tenderly at one another, and their inventiveness will be their best arms to escape safe and sound from the clutches of the witch. Hansel and Gretel is the latest addition to Classic Children’s Tales, a collection proving as popular as ever among both old and young alike. To breathe life into these characters, famous the world over thanks to the Brothers Grimm, Lladró has used its most classic style and all the expressive potential of glazed porcelain. Just as in the fairytale itself, the eighth piece in the collection is full of bright colors and endearing details. The sweetest tale in an exquisite collection which can been seen in its entirety at www.lladro.com.
8th piece in the Classic Children’s Tales collection
hansel and gretel [19 x 11 cm, 7 1/2" x 4 1/4"] Ref. 01008658
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pa ssi on Only the extensive Lladró palette could give rise to a sculpture so true to the spirit of Klimt’s The Kiss. Bright colorful enamels, golden luster and touches of sensuality in a piece celebrating the 150th anniversary of the artist’s birth. A porcelain handcrafted in the Lladró workshops in Valencia - Spain.
the kiss (150th anniversary edition) [33 x 31 cm, 13" x 12 1/4"] Ref. 01008667
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