Figurine Nao

Figurine Nao

Humble Beginnings

The first Lladró figurines can be traced back to 1953 to a small workshop in the rural village of Almácera, Spain near Valencia. Three brothers: Juan, José and Vincente Lladró founded the company. Besides the figurines that define the company now, the brothers crafted jugs, vases and decorative plates. A Professional Training School, the Grant Centre for the City of Porcelain, was founded in 1962 to train the next generation of craftsman.

International Expansion

Starting in 1965, the company expanded beyond Spain when North Americans traveling to Spain started to import the figurines. In 1988, the Lladró Museum and Gallery was opened in New York City and distribution to Australia began. In 1997, a Lladró Centre was opened in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive. The Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas saw a Lladró Centre open in 1999. In 2000, Sydney Australia was the site of another stand alone Lladró Centre.

Logo Evolution

Changes to any logo are important to a collector because they help to identify the age of a piece. In the beginning, the Lladró brothers personally signed their names to their work. These signatures were incised. The first logo was a representation of the Greek sculpture called "Winged Samothrace". As the company evolved and expanded internationally, the next logo was a stylized version of the bellflower, local to the region, along with an ancient chemical symbol and the Lladró name below it. In the 1960's, the word "Spain" was added. The marks during this time were standardized and incised. Adding the word "Spain" was precipitated by the increased role exporting was playing to the company. By the 1970's, a trademark was developed; the familiar blue stamp. In 1974, the accent over the "o" was added. In 1986, the chemical symbol and the typeface were simplified. Using this information, a collector can look at a piece and get an idea of its age.

Building Loyalty

Early on, Lladró understood the value of cultivating loyal customers. In 1985, The Collectors Society was created for customers to interact through events and communications from the company. At a variety of events, in a number of countries, over 100,000 avid collectors continue to meet and share their passion. In 2001, a new level of membership was introduced - Lladró Privilege and a more exclusive Gold level. For a yearly membership fee, Lladró aficionados receive updates on the latest news from the company and are invited to participate in social and cultural events at venues around the world. In 2005, Lladró sponsored a team in the 32nd Americas Cup sailing regatta. Privilege Gold Members were invited to join a VIP boat, have access to the team headquarters and more behind-the-scenes perks.

Fakes

Pay attention to marks. If they are not in line with the evolution of the logo, it may be a fake. Lladró figurines are known for their unique facial characteristics. It is one of the attractions to these collectibles. Authentic Lladrós do not use black to outline the eyes, brows and lids. If these areas are outlined in black, it is likely a fake. The company also started a more modest line called Nao, which should not be confused with the Lladró line.

Most Valuable

Fewer matte glazes were produced, so they are more valuable. Very early Lladrós (1950's - 1970's) had a creamy finish and command steep prices. Early on, the company understood the importance of creating limited editions and retiring designs, which creates scarcity that increases the value. In 1982, The Sculptures series was introduced but with a very few produced again increasing their value.

Damage

Any damage reduces the value considerably. Look for damage on any of the protruding areas (hands, arms etc) or the delicate flowers.

Finishes

Lladrós are sealed with one of three finishes: a high gloss, matte glaze and "gres" finish.

Museums

The importance of Lladró craftsmanship is evident in the fact that Lladró creations are included in the permanent collections of the Brussels Royal Museum of Art and History, The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia and the Modern Art Museum in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Lladró Today

From the small workshop in a rural village, the company has expanded to over 2,000 people working for the company today. Fine porcelains by Lladró are sold in over 100 countries in more than 4,000 retail locations. Retired Lladrós can be found on ebay and at antique shops.

Martin Swinton does antique appraisals and estate sales in Toronto, Canada. He has worked at an auction house, furniture restoration company and for ten years owned an antique shop. He does caning, cording and rushing repairs, teaches courses on antiques and appears at community events. He can be reached by visiting http://www.takeaboo.wordpress.com

Nao $8.99 Nao

Nao Fale Com Paredes $8.99 Nao Fale Com Paredes

Quando Voce Nao Esta $10 Quando Voce Nao Esta - Pixote

Nao Vai Ser Facil $6 Nao Vai Ser Facil - Diego

Nao Posso Viver Sem Voce $6 Nao Posso Viver Sem Voce - Diego

Brigar Nao Ta Com Nada $10 Brigar Nao Ta Com Nada - Grupo Bom Gosto

Soul Link: Morisaki Nao 1/6 PVC Statue $49.99 Soul Link: Morisaki Nao 1/6 PVC Statue

Resin Figurine $178 Resin Figurine

Pois nao $48.19 Spanish speakers can learn Brazilian Portuguese much more rapidly than any other language, and thousands of students have used Anttnio Simues`s text/workbook Com licenga: Brazilian Portuguese for Spanish Speakers to make the transition between the two languages. Recognizing the need for a text that incorporates current cultural references and the latest language pedagogy, Simues now offers Pois não: Brazilian Portuguese Course for Spanish Speakers, with Basic Reference Grammar.Pois não contrasts Portuguese and Spanish, which accomplishes two main goals. It teaches the equivalent of one year of college Portuguese in one semester, three times a week, to Spanish speakers who also have a solid understanding of English. Additionally, the book serves as a basic reference guide to Brazilian Portuguese for the same audience.Pois não can be used by students in the classroom or by independent learners. Users of the book may focus on the drills alone, concentrate on both the explanations and drills, or use the book as a reference for consultation only. Answers to all of the exercises are included in the book. A CD containing recordings by native Brazilian speakers of dialogues that appear in the book is included.

Mabinogi: Nao PVC Statue 1/7 Scale $99.99 Import from Japan Mabinogi: Nao PVC Statue 1/7 Scale

Facade Detail of Wat Noen Phra Nao $24.99 Krzysztof Dydynski Facade Detail of Wat Noen Phra Nao - Photographic Print

Comic Aun Nao Aizawa Statue $123.99 This item has features and themes that are for adults only. Ages 18 and up. Recommended for mature collectors. Celebrate Halloween 365 days a year! Beautifully detailed Nao Aizawa Statue. That is one lucky pumpkin! That is one lucky pumpkin! Nao Aizawa is a lovable redheaded witch that sits atop a smiling jack-o-lantern in this beautifully detailed plastic statue that measures slightly under 6-inches tall. Take Nao home today and celebrate Halloween 365 days a year with this 1:7 scale statue! Ages 18 and up.

East Coast, Motu Nao Nao, Raiatea Island, Society Islands Archipelago, French Polynesia $19.99 J P De Manne East Coast, Motu Nao Nao, Raiatea Island, Society Islands Archipelago, French Polynesia - Photographic Print

Jomon Figurine $49.99 Jomon Figurine - Giclee Print

Figurine of a Wrestler $49.99 Figurine of a Wrestler - Giclee Print

Asiatic Figurine $49.99 Asiatic Figurine - Giclee Print

A Inquisio de 1850 by Nao [Paperback] $32.31 This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCRd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. Author: Nao Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 310 Publication Date: 2010/03/09 Language: Portuguese Dimensions: 7.44 x 9.68 x 0.64 inches

Karate Kid Figurine $8.95 Karate Kid Figurine.

Ceramic Rabbit Figurine - 1.0 $1.95 Ceramic Rabbit figurine - 1.0".

Karate Kid Figurine - Large $12.95 Karate Kid single figurine

Glazed Green Buddha Figurine $4.95 Green Glass Buddha Figurine

Bone Frog Figurine $9.95 Miniature Bone Frog Figurine