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| A brief history of Lladro |
In 1953, three Lladró brothers enrolled in the Valencia School of Arts and Crafts, where
Juan and José studied drawing and painting, while the youngest brother, Vicente, took up
sculpture. They fired their first ceramic creations in an experimental Moorish kiln which
they made at their parent's home in Almàssera (Valencia). Starting with simple flowers and
vessels they honed their skills and sold their pieces until over the years their workshop
expanded sufficiently to become a factory. By 1955 they had begun making sculptures
influenced by the trends of the 18th century. These pieces evoked the works of former
porcelain artists such as Meissen, Sèvres and Capodimonte, for which Lladro are now so
famous.
Demand for Lladró creations suddenly grew and the brothers introduced innovations not
only in the design and style of the figurines but also in the firing techniques, reducing the
three-layer firing to a one-layer process. One-firing is an innovative method which creates
the crystalline finish and the pastel tonalities typical of Lladró works.
The 1960s were years of strong growth and development. In fact, the studios in Tavernes
were enlarged seven times until in 1969 the foundations were laid for what was to become
Porcelain City, the home of Lladró porcelain art today. For over two decades since that
time, Lladró has continued to spread throughout the world, fueling growth back home in
tiny Tavernes. Today they employ over a thousand people and Lladró markets its creations
in over one hundred countries around the world.
In the new millennium Lladró continues to innovate as their contemporary collections with
artists such as Jaime Hayon, Bodo Sperlein and Committee prove. Drawing on Lladró's rich history and expertise these collections are ensuring a modern relevance. |
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