True luxury can be defined not just based on the facade, but on the craft that went into a piece. At a time when everything is fast, a work done by hands that mirrors discipline, passion, and artisanal technique is something of true value. One that understands this the most is the Spanish luxury porcelain house Lladró.

Since 1953, the brand has been making whimsical figurines in porcelain. The material is poured into molds, while individual parts, like flowers, fingers, and clothing folds, are sculpted by hand. Colors are hand-painted, bringing every minute detail to life. But to introduce the art of porcelain to a new audience, Lladró sees the value of collaborating with international and pop culture brands.

The products of those collaborations are now on display at Rustan’s Makati. On May 19, Lladró unveiled an exhibition divided into two sections featuring the brand’s beloved pieces and its most recent partnerships.

First is the “Popcelain” exhibit, which, as the name suggests, is a dialogue between porcelain and pop culture. In this space, pop culture icons are presented through the lens of Lladró’s artisanal craftsmanship. Headlining the exhibit is its collaboration with Pokémon, the Pikachu figure, which also celebrates the franchise’s 30th anniversary. It is one of the first times the figure has been presented outside the Japanese market, as it is slated to be up for sale in June and July.

Also on display are pieces every collector would want on their shelves. This includes Star Wars-inspired creations, featuring detailed sculptures of Darth Vader and Grogu. Lladró’s version of Mickey Mouse takes an artful approach, with the character adorned with a carefree doodle pattern, a nod to Disney’s animation roots. The exhibit also features limited-edition pieces, like the Superman figure, of which the brand produced only 500 pieces.

“It is a trend right now,” Roberto Marco Andreu, Lladró’s South Asia sales director, tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle about the brand’s collaborative works. “It’s about combining tradition and innovation. We do these things but in our own designs and concepts.”

Lladró made sure that its identity is still reflected in these pop culture iterations. To give a better glimpse of the artistry that went into the pieces, the brand brought to Manila one of its master sculptors.

At the event, artist Silvia Pérez Nebot gave everyone a closer look at how a delicate flower, like the one featured in the Pikachu figure, is made. Petals are individually shaped and embossed before being turned into one bloom. Precision is required, and understanding of the materials is important to make such detail look realistic.

While the “Popcelain” pieces truly capture one’s attention, Lladró’s classic designs also stand out for their quiet, almost dream-like elegance. At the store, shelves of porcelain figurines depicting religious images and mythology continue to be a testament to the brand’s sculptural tradition.

One of the collections to truly marvel at is “The Spanish Horse” line. It holds Lladró’s most iconic sculptures, representing an artistic challenge of the greatest technical difficulty. Through their hands, sculptors capture the muscles and veins of the horse, while the painters add depth to the creature’s body and life to its eyes.

Inspired by the majestic specimens of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, high porcelain pieces from “The Spanish Horse” collection carry a heavy price tag, some going beyond a million pesos, reflecting not only the scale and complexity of the work, but also the intense craftsmanship required to bring each horse to life in porcelain form.

“We have a special team that just paints the eyes,” Roberto muses. “Because feelings and emotions are best expressed through the eyes.”