Lladró

2025-09-17T02:55:52Z

2603:9001:12F0:2190:416A:44A0:7C34:7BFE:

{{Short description|Spanish company based in Tavernes Blanques, Valencia}}
{{more footnotes|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox company
| name = Lladró Comercial SA
| logo = Lladro.Logo.gif
| slogan =
| type = [[S.A. (corporation)]]
| foundation = 1953
| location_city = [[Tavernes Blanques]]
| location_country = [[Spain]]
| products = [[Ceramic art|Porcelain art]] and [[figurine]]s
| homepage = [https://www.lladro.com/ www.lladro.com]
}}
'''Lladró''' ({{IPA|ca-valencia|ʎaˈðɾo}}) is a Spanish company based in [[Tavernes Blanques]], [[Valencia (autonomous community)|Valencia]], that produces high-end lighting, home accessories, decorative sculptures and [[porcelain]] [[figurine]]s.<ref>{{cite book|title= Lladró: the magic world of porcelain|publisher=Salvat Editores (Barcelona, Spain)|date= 1988 |isbn=978-8434548602 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= The Lladró Guide: A Collector's Reference to Retired Porcelain Figurines in Lladró Brands |first=Peggy Rose |last=Whiteneck|publisher=Schiffer Publishing|date= 2019|isbn= 978-0764358395}}</ref>

==History==

The company was founded in 1953 by three brothers, Juán, José and Vicente Lladró, in the village of [[Almàssera]] near Valencia. Starting with items such as vases and jugs, it wasn't until 1956 that they started producing the sculptures for which they are now known. Interest in the items produced by the Lladró brothers saw their small workshop expand several times until eventually they moved to Tavernes Blanques in 1958.
* 1962, the brothers open the Professional Training School at their site in Tavernes Blanques to share their knowledge and experience.
* 1969, on 13 October the City of Porcelain was opened by the [[Spanish Minister for Industry]]. It took 2 years to build, and currently employs over 2,000 people.
[[Image:Lladro.jpg|thumb|220px|right|A set of Lladró figurines]]
* 1970, Lladró begins to use earthenware for some of its sculptures. It has earthy colours and is used frequently in natural themes.
* 1973, Lladró buys 50% of the North American company [[Weil Ceramics & Glass]].
* 1974, the first blue Lladró emblem, consisting of a bellflower and ancient chemical symbol, appears on the base to show the origin of the sculpture. The Elite Collection is also launched.
* 1984, Rosa, Mari Carmen and Juan Vicente Lladró joined the company. Each is a child of each of the founding brothers. They underwent a long apprenticeship before they were permitted responsibility in the company.
* 1985, the Collectors’ Society is formed. The first annual sculpture, "Little Pals", can fetch several thousand US dollars at auction due to the small number of members able to purchase it in the early years.
* 1986, Lladró forms an alliance with the [[Mitsui Group]] creating the subsidiary Bussan Lladró based in [[Tokyo]].
* 1988, on 18 September in [[New York City]] the [[Lladró Museum and Gallery]] is opened on [[57th Street (Manhattan)|57th Street in Manhattan]].
* 1993, Lladró receives the [[Principe Felipe award for internationalisation]].
* 2001, Lladró Privilege, a new customer loyalty programme, takes over from the Lladró Collectors’ Society.
* 2004, Lladró Privilege Gold, becomes a new level of loyalty programme within the Privilege programme.
* 2011, Lladró Privilege Society becomes Lladró Gold, in which only one level of membership is offered.
* 2013, Lladró expands into the lighting market with Belle De Nuit, a collection of chandeliers, lamps and sconces.
* 2013, Lladró releases the first piece in their new Dazzle collection which uses a geometric black and white design.
* 2016, [[PHI Industrial Acquisitions]] acquires a majority stake in the Lladró Group.
* 2020, US division of Lladró Group files for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/lladro-galleries-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-in-new-york|title= Lladro Galleries Files for Bankruptcy Protection in New York|first=Rick|last=Green|date=14 July 2020|access-date=15 August 2025|website=Bloomberg Law|language=en}}</ref>

==Technique==
[[Image:Lladro - En Sus Pensamientos.jpg|thumbnail|Lladró figurine called "En sus pensamientos"]]

The manufacturing ingredients are kept closely guarded. The process is detailed in a number of Lladró publications and is on view for tours at the City of Porcelain. Lladró figurines are made of [[hard-paste porcelain]].

==Marketing==
Lladró figurines are given an additional title in [[English language|English]] as well as the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] original, however these names are frequently not translations (figurative or literal) but new names that are more likely to appeal to an English speaking audience. An area for some confusion is that the names of the pieces can change throughout their run so the same figurine may end up with several titles.

[[File:Lladro Fisherboy Figurine.jpg|thumb|A Lladro figurine of a fisher boy. (Ref 4809)]]

==See also==
* [[Porcelain manufacturing companies in Europe]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website}}
*[http://www.theprudentcollector.com/lladro_marks.html Lladró trademarks reference guide]
*[http://www.lladroblog.com Lladró Informational Blog]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lladro}}
[[Category:Ceramics manufacturers of Spain]]
[[Category:Porcelain]]
[[Category:Figurines]]
[[Category:Valencian Community]]
[[Category:Spanish brands]]
[[Category:Figurine manufacturers]]
[[Category:Companies based in the Valencian Community]]
[[Category:Design companies established in 1953]]
[[Category:1953 establishments in Spain]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1953]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020]]

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Lladró