Lladro Opens Second U.S. Boutique

Tina Benitez-Eves -- Gifts and Dec, 12/4/2012 2:29:01 PM

Lladro's New York City storefrontNEW YORK - Lladro opened shop in New York City today. The new Midtown Manhattan boutique is the Spanish porcelain figurine maker's second U.S. opening.

Located on the corner of 52nd St. and Madison Ave., the boutique's porcelain white façade and large windows offers an inviting glimpse into the Lladro collection before guests even step inside.

The opening is also part of the company's expansion throughout the past couple of years with five boutiques in Hong Kong, eight in India, seven in Moscow and locations in Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and several other regions around the world. The Lladro boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA, which opened in 1997, was the company's first U.S. location.

The Guest Collection by Tim Biskup

In attendence at today's opening were designer Jaime Hayon; Joseph Tarella, architect; Rosa Lladró, president; Ramón Pla, head of decoration department; Susana Rodríguez, head of design department; Francisco Polope and Marco Antonio Nogueron, both sculptors for Lladro.

One of the main collections showcased in the front window is Lladro's more whimsical "'The Fantasy" collection (which features some pieces inspired by the comedy, tragedy theater masks) by Hayon. The artist started collaborating with the company in 2005 and is now Lladro's artistic advisor. Hayon, who also designed the New York boutique, is working on adding collections to Lladro that may appeal to a younger audience, including Hayon's more contemporary "The Guest Collection," while staying true to classic Lladro Inside Lladro's New York shopcraftsmanship. Artist Gary Baseman, known for his work with Disney ("Teacher's Pet") and designing the Cranium board game, will launch his figurines under The Guest Collection, January 2013. Baseman is the second American artist the company has worked with under the collection. The first of the limited-edition series was created by Tim Biskup in collaboration with the Japanese studio Devilrobots.

"My direction is more avant garde," Hayon told Gifts and Decorative Accessories. "I took this job because I wanted to make a team in the company with a new vision. This is one of the biggest porcelain companies in the world. It's quite interesting to be part of the conservation of the company."

The family-owned company, which has nearly 1,000 employees, will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2013.