Lladró

Would quite often criss cross TTK Road, Alwarpet. off late.. I was inquisitive about a good-looking store that had opened its doors next to Sankara Hall (near Naradha Gana Sabha). The Lladró store had a certain elite-ness to it, they offer some amazing Doll stuff (the ones on the display were simply breathtaking!). Was wondering how they manage to run a doll shop in a prime locality..

Landed on their website only to be floored by it's surprises. Lladró makes Porcelain sculptures. Very Simple. Today it sells its exquisite, handcrafted porcelain figurines in over 120 countries, and has become an internationally recognized luxury brand.

Brief look @ their origins

"In 1953 Juan, José and Vicente Lladró make their first creations inspired by an experimental vocation in a Moorish furnace built in their own home in Almàssera (Valencia), Spain. The brothers introduce 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. In 1967 work begins on building the City of Porcelain, an area which combines factory and office buildings with leisure and sport facilities for the workers. This innovative complex is opened on October 13, 1969. "

Their growth is simply amazing. The way they have traced their history in their website is also nice - www.lladro.com

A 2003 article in Business Line says
"Prices in India start at Rs 3,000 and go on to Rs 16.5 lakh, but the items in the Rs 6,000-10,000 bracket are slowly replacing the traditional silver gifts. Pointing to a porcelain Ganesh encased at the entrance, O'Brien says that is an investor's item. One of the limited editions it put out a few years ago, it cost Rs 69,000 then, but now it's been sold back to Lladro as its price has appreciated to Rs 3 lakh. Lladro buys back limited edition pieces as they have the potential to appreciate and be sold over and over"

A 2005 article says
"The expected turnover in 2005 is expected to be driven by sales of the recently-introduced, India special limited edition of Radha & Krishna and the open edition of Kanhaiya and cow. The limited edition of Radha & Krishna has been priced at Rs 2,35,000 per piece.

Breathe Easy;-))