Porcelain by Lladro: Re-Discovered

My taste for possessions, has evolved.

When I was younger, I collected what I could afford at flea markets + fell in love with objects: glass, leather, copper or aluminum. Anything under $20 was great, under $10 better. Shopping was the passion; coming home with something new, the prize. I learned the love of things from my Mom. 

Basically she loves her stuff....I love mine.

Many of those "must-haves" are presently boxed-up as I now opt for a sparser look. A reflection of my history,  cartons are loaded with a visual diary of days past + stored for safe keeping. My shopping obsession has morphed into the business of  Interior Designer, which I am self proclaimed  as, " The Big Kahuna Ultimate Consumer", as I tirelessly shop for lots of objects to fill lots of homes.  My mission vacillates between filling empty spaces with stuff + designing furniture to stylishly camouflage all types of other stuff.

My Clients are different from me.  For one, many have collected volumes of books, which they treasure as they do their children. Secondly, they just don't enjoy the thrill of shopping, as I do. Maybe it's that  they spend their time more productively - who's to judge?

But the secret is that many don't really have much cool stuff.  Typically, after custom built-ins are  installed we usually don't have anything  suitable to fill the shelves they've hired me to create.  Not to mention the lack of quality serving pieces to entertain guests – which was the main goals of designing a new space in the first place.

It's understood that when a project is finally at the end stages, the smallest details should enhance the new room's shape + color. "Excellence is in the Details"  is right up there next to, "Culture Up".

Interestingly, when accessory time comes,  there is a desire to not live the past but instead start fresh, in every way. Don't get me wrong, I am the biggest advocate of incorporating vintage pieces of furniture + flea market finds, but as a sophisticated mix of high~low~new~old.  Encore Decor...after all.

Vases are always a favorite of mine - much more so than candlesticks. I love vessels + love them without flowers - just as sculpture. I was very bad at the potter's wheel in camp, so I have an appreciation for symmetry + form.

* As a side note + apropos for this week, my Mom's Mom, always had a bird, always named Farfel.

The point of this post: I finally went inside the Lladro Showroom/Museum/Store on 57^th Street. My whole adult life I have walked by that location, from my earliest days in art school to my more sophisticated afternoons at Bergdorf's. Never been inside - those sweet  statues - never my thing.

But, I am now a believer. It is truly amazing to see what can be done with the chalky liquid called porcelain.

Some of the newer collections, shown here, were  surprising appealing in a funky way, affordable + intended for a new generation of collectors.

 

In keeping with the tradition that has made this once small family business into a household staple worldwide, I was delighted to see, along with the Nativity Scenes + faithful replications of Chinese, Japanese + Indian traditional Icons...

...that they also offer a Seder Plate.

Have a good week.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF LLADRO