Lladró's final cofounder has died. Image credit: Lladró
Spanish porcelain house Lladró’s cofounder Vicente Lladró has died.
Mr. Lladró was the youngest of three brothers who founded the house in 1953. Following the passing of his older brothers Juan and José Lladró, Vicente Lladró died at the age of 86 on Oct. 11.
Final founder
The Lladró brothers started making their pieces in their home in Almàssera, Spain. By the end of the 1950s, they had opened their first store in Valencia.
In the following decade, Lladró defined its style, including pastel tones and elongated lines.
As the company grew, the house moved to its current headquarters in Tavernes Blanques in 1969.
Lladró expanded internationally in the 1980s, with the creation of subsidiaries in China and Japan, as well as openings in New York, Russia, Eastern Europe and India.
In 2017, Lladró was acquired by PHI Industrial, which also counts menswear label Boglioli and textile manufacturer Mascioni among its portfolio.
Recently, the porcelain maker has begun a new chapter, introducing new categories such as lighting fixtures and home accessories. Partnerships and pop-ups have been key to introducing the heritage brand to new audiences, as well as expanding beyond traditional porcelain pieces (see story).
According to Europa Press, Juan Lladró died at the age of 91 in 2017, and José Lladró passed away in June 2019, when he was also 91.
Instagram post from Lladró
In a statement, Lladró said, “Together with Juan and José, [Vicente] dedicated his life to researching porcelain and all its artistic capabilities and virtues, turning it into a subject that, as he pointed out, was perfect for making handcrafted creations to mirror the positive side of life. A life that Vicente sustained on love, friendship, family, respect and support for his collaborators, and his infinite passion for porcelain.
“Today we join the sentiment of his family and friends in recognition of a great life and with gratitude,” the company said.