Pep it up with porcelain

Ruwini Jayawardana

With nimble fingers she moulds the delicate clay and crafts the pieces to form a flower petal. Gathering a handful she brings the petals together to make an artifact that resembles a flower which we have seen growing in a garden or meadow.

Lladro Singapore Pte Ltd General Manager Helen Kang

Francisca Sanjuan Molla at work

Making these products is no cake walk because it demands months of research and patience. Each flower or leaf has to be studies to get the outlook right and each expression or gesture of the figures of the glittering porcelain has to resemble real life.

This is the success mantra behind globally acclaimed handcrafted porcelain sculpture brand Lladro.

The name which had been synonymous with exquisite works of art rendered in seamless porcelain and delicate hues is now in Sri Lanka as they opened their maiden store at Crescat Boulevard recently.

The team also brought their seasoned flower artist Francisca Sanjuan Molla to Colombo to give a live demonstration of how the exquisite pieces are formed to resemble picture perfect items that enthrall art enthusiasts. Francisca had begun her career at Lladro at 14 and had been part of the brand for nearly four decades.

She started as a flower maker but had worked as an instructor for the past three decades, training many budding youth in the art of porcelain making.

"Porcelain products have a manner in which they speak about their quality for themselves. Our products are hundred percent handmade with flowers as its emblem.

No one can imitate our designs in the exact manner. They receive a lot of attention during the making process and thoroughness in the elaboration. We have also included the brand's stamp at the base of the product. If the design is a limited edition we also include the designer's signature and a certificate," Lladro Singapore Pte Ltd General Manager Helen Kang explained.

Christ’s birth

Flower shop

Girl and swan

Since the brand is available internationally the team tries to cater its products to clients from diverse nationalities and backgrounds. One step they have taken in fulfilling this task is to include figures linked with different religions in their collections. Walk through their stores in many parts of the globe and be dazzled by the Buddha, Ganesha, Christ and other religious figures which seem to have come top life from religious scriptures.

According to Helen Lladro artists find it easy to create Catholic pieces as many Spanish citizens are Catholics. "However it is always a challenge to design statues from other religions as the designers have to study the representation of each detail on the statues in addition to the different elements of Spanish ideas.

The past and present sales results of these statues are signs of a jon well done! Sri Lanka is a country of multi religions. We believe customers from different religions will be happy to see the beautiful pieces in the store," she added. She notes that the size and complexity of the pieces decided the period which takes the product to be manufactured. In the case of small pieces, an average of six months is required for the elaborations of a new model.

The idea is born in the mind of the sculptor until the piece is ready to be produced in porcelain. Lladro's biggest piece, Queen of the Nile, had taken five years to be completed.

"We generally have good sales across the world but we noticed a special liking towards our religion pieces, glazed pieces and pieces embedded with flowers," Helen said.

Queried about the challenging aspects of manufacturing porcelain products Helen said that each aspect of the manufacturing process is specialized from designing, assembly, painting, ornamentation and flower elaboration.

The Laboratory responsible for the colour palettes too work with the designers to get the hues right.

"Each process is challenging to create a product of admirable beauty. Our employees are specialized in their subject so that they take each step with utmost confidence.

New methods for new items are planned, experimented and put to a test with zeal," she said.

The pieces are created upon inspiration from a series of key concepts such as love, hope, magic, dreams, fantasy, tenderness, nature and the evocation of the past.

Horses Pictures by Saman Sri Wedage

Speaking about why they decided that now is the time to relaunch Lladro in Sri Lanka Helen said that facts like the increasing number of Sri Lankan clients at Lladro international boutiques, the elimination of terrorism and awareness towards the products caused them to bring the brand to Sri Lankan soil.

Down the ages, porcelain figurines have been a must-have piece in every collector's list.

Exotic sculptures, vases and tableware are the centre of attraction in museums the world over and now this work of art finds its way into homes. For some it has become a passion to collect these wondrous items throughout the years.

Exclusive Lines Director Hiru Surtani is one such individual who had not only treasured his passion for the art but had decided to make the pieces available for many more who harness such a passion.

"We are very excited to introduce this age old art to the connoisseurs in Colombo. Joining hands with the legendary Spanish brand is a triumph indeed," he enthused.