LLADRÓ Boutique: Introducing Spanish Porcelain To NYC
Photo courtesy of LLADRÓ.
LLADRÓ, a renowned Spanish brand, has established its presence in New York City, offering a unique blend of art, craftsmanship, and luxury through its exquisite porcelain creations. Located in the heart of the city, the LLADRÓ boutique invites visitors to explore a world of meticulously handcrafted figurines, home decor, and lighting pieces that reflect the brand's rich heritage and artistic excellence.
After visiting their wonderful boutique in person, I was intrigued to figure out more about the intricate processes going into the brainstorming and creation of these porcelain pieces. Tune into my brief interview conducted with LLADRÓ down below.
What is it like to have a porcelain store in New York City?
Having a porcelain boutique in New York is both a challenge and a privilege due to the high expectations for both product quality and retail space design. Lladró, with its large American clientele, has managed to feel very welcomed in the city. The opening of the New York Boutique was part of the brand’s 70th anniversary celebration and was designed as a showroom offering an immersive experience of the Lladró porcelain creative process. The boutique is located in a bustling commercial area, rich in history, with a variety of bars, restaurants, galleries, hotels, and high-end boutiques, and is also close to Little Island and Chelsea Market, making it an essential meeting point for locals and tourists alike.
Winter Palace Chandelier–Côte d’Azur, edition. Photo courtesy of LLADRÓ.
Petals at Nightfall from the ‘Nightbloom’ collection by renowned Dutch design studio Marcel Wanders. Photo courtesy of LLADRÓ.
How are the pieces displayed at the boutique created and selected?
The pieces are selected under the brand’s New Concept category, as it is the most innovative. The store showcases pieces designed by renowned international artists such as Jaime Hayon and they are all made in porcelain, including limited editions. Additionally, the boutique presents porcelain lighting collections like Nightbloom by Marcel Wanders, Seasons, Winter Palace with its stunning chandeliers, and the colorful wireless lamps Firefly and Kokeshi. A space is also dedicated to the Heritage line, emphasizing Lladró’s traditional legacy with high porcelain masterpieces, balanced with the most contemporary creations and predominantly white designs to highlight ornamental finishes. This reflects the brand’s rich heritage and creative universe.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in introducing Spanish porcelain to the New York market, and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges in introducing Spanish porcelain to the New York market has been revitalizing the perception of this material and exploring its most innovative creative possibilities. The opening of the new boutique during Lladró’s 70th anniversary was designed to create emotional connections with customers through an experiential space. This approach has been key to attracting a diverse clientele, including many young adults interested in pieces that reflect their personal design sensibilities.
To overcome these challenges, Lladró has implemented an omnichannel strategy that enhances both digital and in-person sales channels. This ensures that customers have a consistent brand experience, whether they shop online or at a store, in New York or any other location. This comprehensive approach has allowed Lladró to effectively connect with its audience and respond to their needs and expectations, facilitating the introduction and acceptance of Spanish porcelain in the demanding New York market.
Airbloom table lamp from the ‘Soft Blown’ collection by Luca Nichetto. Photo courtesy of LLADRÓ.
Can you share a memorable story about one of the specific pieces in your collection?
More than a specific anecdote, we have received many positive comments from people who are surprised to see the intricacy of our designs in person. One standout memory is of a customer who discovered Lladró through our collaboration with Luca Nichetto. This customer was amazed not only by our lighting selections, but also by the rest of our collections. Seeing how people discover and become fascinated by our brand, especially through new products, is a wonderful experience that we deeply value.
Assembling a porcelain figure. Photo courtesy of LLADRÓ.
Artist carefully painting a porcelain figure. Photo courtesy of LLADRÓ.
Can you describe the journey of a porcelain piece from conception to the final product, and how your team ensures the highest quality throughout this process?
The journey of a Lladró porcelain piece begins with the author’s concept, who models a sketch after thorough research. Then, the technical team defines the fragments into which the piece will be divided, which can have more than 400 parts. These fragments are reproduced in alabaster, crafting each detail by hand. From here, the final molds are created, which are filled with liquid porcelain to form the piece. Decoration is crucial, using a palette of over 4,000 colors and various decorative techniques. The artists apply the colors with precision, and for pieces with flowers, each petal is handmade. Finally, the piece is fired in the kiln at 1300ºC (2500ºF) for an entire day, revealing the colors and reducing its size by 15%. The most complex pieces are supported by special structures. Quality control is rigorous, with multiple tests to ensure that each piece meets Lladró’s high standards. This process guarantees the excellence and worldwide recognition of Lladró’s works.
How do you see the future evolution of porcelain art, both in terms of traditional techniques and contemporary trends?
The future evolution of porcelain art presents itself as a combination of traditional techniques and contemporary trends. Lladró has achieved a unique artistic style with broad international reach, expanding into markets in the United States, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and India.
The Heritage category reflects Lladró’s most classic traits, with sculptures inspired by emotions, cultures, and traditions. These timeless pieces reach their highest expression in the limited editions of High Porcelain, which represent the brand’s technical and artistic brilliance.
On the other hand, the New Concept line represents Lladró’s avant-garde side, standing out for its creativity, experimentation, and technique in sculptures, lighting, jewelry, and home accessories. This category has become increasingly important in the brand’s catalog.
Additionally, Lladró has expanded its offerings to include lighting collections, taking advantage of porcelain’s unique properties to create warm and evocative light. This category includes chandeliers, pendant lamps, table lamps, floor lamps, wall lamps, and cordless lamps.
The evolution of porcelain art is heading towards a harmonious integration of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary innovations, expanding the reach and functionality of porcelain creations.
Mokuren lamp by Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa. Photo courtesy of LLADRÓ.
If you’re interested in checking out more of LLADRÓ’s beautiful porcelain pieces in person, you can visit their store in NYC at this address.
LLADRÓ Boutique New York
