Lady of Spain. . .

Right from the night I first saw you

My heart has been yearning for you

What else could any heart do?

Lady of Spain, 1931

And who could not yearn for this lovely lady by the Spanish porcelain firm of Lladró. Entitled "La Maja," this beautiful bust was sculpted by Juan Huerta and introduced in 1970. Lladró retired this piece in 1985. Although "maja" now generally means a pleasant and attractive woman, in the time of the Spanish painter Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746 –1828), the word referred to a pretty and vivacious young woman of the lower classes who dressed in a vibrant and bold manner. Goya featured majas in a number of his paintings, the most famous of which are his La Maja Desnuda and La Maja Vestida. 

Her raven tresses are adorned with two realistic roses. These roses were formed petal by petal, hand-molded out of clay and carefully applied to the figurine before the piece was fired. This delicate detail and workmanship are typical of the finest of Lladró's creations. Lladró was founded in 1953 by three brothers, Juán, José, and Vicente Lladró. Educated at the Valencia School of Arts and Crafts, where they studied sculpture and painting, the brothers first began producing ceramic flowers and decorative items for sale in the local market, but by 1956 they began creating the sculptural figurines for which Lladró is world famous. After expanding their workshop several times to meet growing demand, in 1958, the brothers relocated to a factory in Tavernes Blanques, where Lladró still resides today.

This delicate damsel comes in her own display case. 

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

16455-16

A Fine Catch. . .

for a collector of Lladró is this large and lovely sculpture of two pescadoras (fisherwomen).  Called "Sea Harvest" or "Pescadoras," this evocative figurine was sculpted by Antonio Ramos in 1984 and retired in 1990. It is stamped underneath with the Lladró mark and comes on its original wood base. 

The figurine is in a finish called "gres." In the 1970s, Lladró developed a unique material that blended  porcelain with clay, giving a figurine the earthy tones of pottery. Lladró used a warm color palette for its gres creations, carefully layering the enamel glazes to give the colors a special depth, luminosity,  and subtly. Gres requires significantly longer firing and cooling times that porcelain to ensure that the enamel paints crystalize evenly.

Lladró was founded in 1953 by three brothers, Juán, José, and Vicente Lladró. Encouraged by their mother, the brothers were educated at the Valencia School of Arts and Crafts, where they studied sculpture and painting. They first began with a kiln they built at their parents' home, producing ceramic flowers and decorative items for sale in the local market and by 1956 the brothers began creating the sculptural figurines for which Lladró has become world famous. After expanding their workshop several times to meet growing demand for their porcelains, the brothers in 1958 relocated to a factory in Tavernes Blanques, where Lladró still resides today.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

15901-90

Piety in Porcelain

In Christian iconography, a pietà (the pity) depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the the body of her son, Jesus following his crucifixion.  This solemn and moving interpretation is by the famed Spanish porcelain company, Lladró.  Designed by Sculptor Salvador Furiã and entitled "Piedad" (Piety), this poignant porcelain figurine (model number 5541) was issued in a limited edition of 1,000 in 1989 and retired in 1991.  It sits on its original wooden base and carries the company's mark. 

A closeup of the exquisitely modeled and expressive faces.

Lladró was founded in 1953 by three brothers, Juán, José, and Vicente Lladró.  Encouraged by their mother, the brothers were educated at the Valencia School of Arts and Crafts, where they studied sculpture and painting. They first began with a kiln they built at their parents' home, producing ceramic flowers and decorative items for sale in the local market and by 1956 the brothers began creating the sculptural figurines for which Lladró  has become world famous.  After expanding their workshop several times to meet growing demand for their porcelains, the brothers in 1958 relocated to a factory in Tavernes Blanques, where Lladró still resides today.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

15004-47