CO-FOUNDER of one of the world's largest names in porcelain figurine collectibles, José Lladró, passed away on Monday aged 91, meaning his two daughters now own his 15% share of the company.
It was set up by the three Lladró brothers – Juan, who died in December 2017; José, and Vicente, who is still living - in 1953.
They created the Lladró brand in their tiny, humble workshop in their native village of Almàssera (Valencia province), but within less than a decade, their beautiful, intricate and delicate figurines were being sold in bespoke shops and concessions, and in collections in independent boutiques, on all five continents.
By then, the company had set up its head office and factory in the Valencia-province town of Tavernes Blanques, where it remains today.
In 2003, the brothers – who owned a third of the company each – decided to distribute their shares to their children.
The late Juan Lladró and his four daughters held 70% of the firm, whilst the remaining 30% was split equally between José and his two daughters and Vicente and his three children.
Vicente is now the only surviving original founder, and the company is in the hands of its second generation.
Lladró figurines are sought-after worldwide, highly-treasured, and even the cheapest and most basic come with a three-figure price tag, given that they are all made entirely by hand.
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