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"For People Passionate About Spanish Porcelain"

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LLADRÓ
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          (Retired 2008)
          (Retired 2009-10)
          (Retired 2011-12)
   Rosal
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      (Zaphir Catalog)
   Golden Memories
      (GM-NAO Nexus)
      (GM-NAO Table)
      (Compare a Model)
      (GM Catalog)
   Hispania
     (Hispania Catalog)

Made in Spain
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Nadal

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   Nalda

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For those interested in glass figurines, Fenton Art Glass Beasts, Birds & Butterflies is another of Peggy's books!



Also for those interested in glass, Fenton Art Glass Fairy Lamps & Lights is Peggy's latest book! It focuses on small, candle-lit "lamps" that were first used in the Victorian era to light dark hallways before the invention of gaslight or electricity.

The publisher for these Fenton books has gone out of business, but I am pursuing other publishing options for revised and expanded editions. Stay tuned! In the meantime, you may still find advance-ordered and used copies of these books at online booksellers.

An Interesting Comparison of a GM Model to Its NAO Counterpart

-Peggy Whiteneck

A collector recently contacted me to ask about a Golden Memories figurine she'd purchased, #33043,"Pretty Bouquet." The item is a reissue of NAO #495. (Recall that NAO production was suspended while GM was being brought out and that when GM was closed, the first-year models were again incorporated into the NAO collection.) The pictures of this item as sent to me by the collector illustrate several interesting points.


Golden Memories #33043, "Pretty Bouquet," a model with an earlier NAO version, #495, "My Bouquet." I've presented two views of this item because the angles of the photography make the two necessary to show that it is the same model as the NAO model pictured below. Though not visible in these pictures, the clump of foliage at the girl's side as shown in the NAO photo is also present here. (Photos courtesy of a collector who prefers to remain anonymous.)

To begin with, NAO # 495, "My Bouquet," is a much earlier serial number than most of the NAO items that have GM versions. NAO #495 was first issued in 1985 - several years before Golden Memories came out. What this shows is that some, at least, of the first year GM models were already in production in the NAO brand before GM was brought out, lending credence to my theory that the separate GM line was initially intended as a replacement for the NAO brand.

Also note that the NAO version of this item (pictured at right), which was produced first and is still in production today, has Lladró's famous flowerwork in the girls's arms (below right). The addition of flowerwork on any Lladró product drives the price up, and this item is no exception; currently retailing at $175 USD, it is expensive for a NAO. Notice, though, that the Golden Memories version (below left) has molded flowers in a rather rudimentary modeling; that would have served to keep the production cost llower on the GM version.

At Last - A New Lladró Book!

The Lladró Guide; A Collector's Reference to Retired Porcelain Figurines in Lladró Brands

My most recent Lladró book has revised and expanded content and remains the only book in print on this topic that isn't just a catalog. Covers all Lladró and Lladró-affiliated brands (regular collection, NAO, Zaphir, Golden Memories, Hispania, Rosal, and Tang) and tells how to distinguish them from imitations and counterfeits. Includes revised and expanded content, including many new photos and a new chapter on future directions for collectors and the company now that it has passed from family hands. The book is in hard cover, which eliminates that annoying curl-up that happens with paperback books.You can order the book directly from the publisher, Schiffer Books, on Amazon, or from your favorite bookstore using the ISBN 13 number 978-0764358395.

Warning: If you're looking for a catalog of every retired figurine Lladró ever made, this is not the book for you. If you're looking for beautiful, full-color photos of representative models and more in-depth and well-researched information about Lladró and its history and production than you can get in thumbnail photos with captions, this book is what you're looking for.

Retail Price in Hardcover: $45
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