Lladró facts for kids
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| S.A. (corporation) | |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters |
Tavernes Blanques
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| Products | Porcelain art and figurines |
Lladró is a Spanish company. It is famous for making beautiful porcelain art. They create fancy lighting, home decorations, and detailed sculptures. Their main office is in Tavernes Blanques, a town near Valencia, Spain.
Contents
The Story of Lladró
Lladró was started in 1953 by three brothers: Juán, José, and Vicente Lladró. They began their small workshop in a village called Almàssera, close to Valencia. At first, they made things like vases and jugs.
How the Sculptures Began
In 1956, the brothers started making the porcelain sculptures they are now known for. People really liked their creations. Their small workshop grew quickly. By 1958, they moved to a bigger place in Tavernes Blanques.
Important Moments in Lladró's History
- 1962: The brothers opened a special school. It was at their site in Tavernes Blanques. They wanted to share their skills and knowledge.
- 1969: On October 13, the "City of Porcelain" opened. This huge factory took two years to build. Today, over 2,000 people work there.
- 1970: Lladró started using a new material called gres. It has earthy colors. They often use it for sculptures with nature themes.
- 1973: Lladró bought half of an American company. It was called Weil Ceramics & Glass.
- 1974: The first blue emblem appeared on the base of sculptures. This mark showed where the piece came from. They also launched the "Elite Collection."
- 1984: The next generation joined the company. Rosa, Mari Carmen, and Juan Vicente Lladró started working there. They are the children of the founding brothers. They learned a lot before taking on big roles.
- 1985: The "Collectors’ Society" was formed. The first special sculpture for members was "Little Pals." These early pieces can be very valuable today.
- 1986: Lladró teamed up with the Mitsui Group. They created a new company in Tokyo called Bussan Lladró.
- 1988: On September 18, the Lladró Museum and Gallery opened. It is located on 57th Street in New York City.
- 1993: Lladró won the "Principe Felipe award for internationalisation." This award recognized their success around the world.
- 2001: A new customer program started, called "Lladró Privilege." It replaced the old Collectors’ Society.
- 2004: "Lladró Privilege Gold" was added. This was a higher level of the loyalty program.
- 2011: The program changed again to "Lladró Gold." Now there was only one type of membership.
- 2013: Lladró started making lighting products. Their "Belle De Nuit" collection included chandeliers and lamps.
- 2013: They released the first piece in their "Dazzle" collection. These designs feature cool black and white geometric patterns.
- 2016: A company called PHI Industrial Acquisitions bought most of the Lladró Group.
How Lladró Sculptures Are Made
The exact ingredients for Lladró's porcelain are a secret. However, you can learn about the process. Tours at the City of Porcelain show how the figurines are made. Lladró sculptures are created from a strong type of porcelain.
Naming the Artworks
Lladró figurines often have two names. They have their original Spanish name and an English name. The English names are not always direct translations. They are chosen to sound good to English speakers. Sometimes, the name of a piece can change over time. This means the same figurine might have different titles.
See also
In Spanish: Lladró para niños
- Porcelain manufacturing companies in Europe
