| Type | S.A. (corporation) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Tavernes Blanques, Spain |
| Products | Ceramic Art Porcelain Figurines |
| Website | www.lladro.com |
Lladró (Valencian pronunciation: [ʎaˈðɾo]) is a Valencian Spanish company based in Tavernes Blanques, Valencia, that produces high quality porcelain figurines.
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The company was founded in 1953 by three brothers, Juan, 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 most famous. Enthusiasm for the items produced by the Lladró brothers saw their small workshop expand several times until eventually they moved to Tavernes Blanques in 1958.
The manufacturing ingredients are kept under tight guard. The process is detailed in a number of Lladró publications and is fully on view for tour groups and individuals at the City of Porcelain. Lladró figurines are made out of an original blend of hard-paste porcelain, which gives the products their unique porcelain characteristics. The glaze ingredients also add to the look of the figures and is an industry secret.
Lladró figurines are given an additional title in English as well as the 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.
In an episode of the sitcom Will and Grace (7x12, "Christmas Break"), Will's mother Marilyn (portrayed by Blythe Danner) had a collection of Lladró, her favorite being 'Ouisan, the bashful geisha.' She was described as being priceless; the humour of the episode revolved around the fact that Grace had broken her and was fearful of Marilyn finding out, as she was very precious to her (she declared her desire to discover who had done it and to "pour bleach on something they love").
In The Sopranos, Carmela Soprano boasts about her Lladró figurine in "Everybody Hurts" (4x6). In the episode "Chasing It" (6x16), Carmela breaks the figurine by throwing it at Tony Soprano.
In "The Nanny" (Episode 5x05), Fran's paternal aunt Freida contemplates on whether she may or may not hire Niles as a butler. She decides that she should because she wants someone to dust her Lladró collection. Nonetheless, she pronounces it wrong and makes a smart remark about it to Fran's mother Sylvia.
In Big Love Roman Grant's wife Adaleen has a large Lladró collection.