Lladró sculpts into the present with Batman and Star Wars

Generations of Filipinos who grew up trailing their moms around Rustan’s are already familiar with Lladró. The ethereal sculptures of this Spanish company, which has been crafting fine porcelain since 1953, can be found in our grandparents’ and parents’ homes—attesting to how the graceful lines of classic Lladró pieces are so in sync with the local psyche.

But times change, tastes change, and while the religious pieces and feminine figures will always have a place in our Pinoy hearts, the company has adapted and grown with an ever-evolving world.

I already knew that headlining their latest offerings were limited-edition pieces of Batman, his cape gracefully flowing alongside him as his figurine captures the essence of speed in a stationary piece. There are Stormtroopers that I think appeal best to my generation as Star Wars debuted when I was in college.

But “The Guest,” the most elegant rendition of the highly popular Pop Art trend that has not waned since its debut in the Fifties, is the one that hands down will appeal to my Gen-Z kids—provided they can afford it!

Fine porcelain, especially in the hands of a 61-year-old company like Lladró, is a highly refined art form. Roberto Marco Andreu, Lladró sales director for South Asia and Iberia, spoke of a craft where different sculptors work on each piece depending on their expertise. For some, it may be the eyes, others the muscles, and still someone else the minute veins, as Roberto pointed out on a horse that was on display at Rustan’s Home. Indeed, Rustan’s has been home to Lladró for decades.

The company’s dedication to perfection means that they will destroy all the porcelain pieces that do not meet their standards!

The Guest gets its moniker from the sculpture, becoming a permanent guest at your home should you purchase one. It is also a collaboration between Lladró and some of the world’s most gifted artists, creating pieces that are highly covetable. My favorite is the one inspired by the moods of the sea by Supakitch Le.

But that’s not all. Adapting to the tastes of future Gen Z and Alpha customers is one thing; creating a whole universe of forms that go way beyond, yet are still in sync with Lladró’s classic designs, is another.

I was swept away by a galaxy of gorgeously playful forms of chandeliers, lighting fixtures, lamps, beautiful insects and other creatures, all everyday aspects of life elevated by their rendering in fine porcelain.

“We can customize according to the taste of the client,” says Andreu, who walked us through this amazing galaxy of design, which can be colorful and whimsical, playful or serious, exotic or solemn—the whole spectrum of life that Lladró reflects. Yet there is that elegant restraint that knows just when to draw the line. 

Lladró comes with a price tag to match its quality and status as a very desirable collectible. But think of it this way: you don’t purchase a Lladró just for yourself. You buy it to treasure and marvel at, yes, and then to hand it down to your children and those that will come after them—an art piece that elicits joy for generations to come.