Divine designs
Lladró launches a limited-edition collection titled Ram Darbar to commemorate its 60th anniversary
 "Divine designs")
At first glance, the sculpted figures of Ram, Sita and Lakshman, with Hanuman kneeling at their feet in devotion, seem like just another image from the traditional illustrations of the Ramayana. But go closer and you begin to appreciate the nuances and intricacies that have gone into making this limited edition porcelain sculpture. 'Ram Darbar', the collection launched recently by Lladró - the Spanish luxury porcelain brand - is the latest in the 'Spirit of India' series. "The Ram and Sita figurines that we launched last year didn't seem complete without Lakshman and Hanuman," says Angeles Lladró, vice-president, Lladró. According to her, 'Ram Darbar' seemed the perfect choice to commemorate the company's 60th year. Measuring 46x29 cm in size, the limited edition of 1,800 pieces is priced at Rs 8.10 lakh each.
The extent of detailing is what sets this sculpture apart. The placement of the bows, the intricate etchings in the jewellery, the folds in the pleats and the arrangement of each petal in the garlands has been given extensive thought. The expressions of benevolence on the faces of Ram and Sita and the spirit of unflinching devotion in Hanuman's posture have been faithfully reproduced. In spite of the embellishments, there is an understated quality to the sculpture. There is no "in-your-face" bling about it. A lot of time was spent in finding the right kind of documentation to come up with a prototype. "There are so many variations of the same image across the country, so we had to do extensive research after which the piece was created at our workshop in Valencia. We learnt to focus on artistic and technical excellence from the Japanese. We now have the confidence to replicate this for other cultures as well," says Lladró.
Several years go into the making of each collection. For instance, the Ram and Sita sculptures launched last year took two years to be created. Another masterpiece - 'Queen of the Nile' - was six years in the making, with 20 artists required to paint just one side of the barge. Porcelain is a difficult material to work with, because it is a live medium and changes form constantly. Only when the piece goes to the kiln does the artist know if the processes followed were right or wrong. "The kiln is the best judge. If it says you are wrong, you have to start all over again," says Lladró.
After the prototype has been created, it is studied for two years before the masterpiece is crafted at the factory. There are separate artists for each aspect of the sculpture, be it ornamentation or attire - for instance, one person prepares the mould, another one puts in the flower, someone else paints it, another artist paints the faces and so on.
The 'Ram Darbar' collection is available in eight stores across the country
The extent of detailing is what sets this sculpture apart. The placement of the bows, the intricate etchings in the jewellery, the folds in the pleats and the arrangement of each petal in the garlands has been given extensive thought. The expressions of benevolence on the faces of Ram and Sita and the spirit of unflinching devotion in Hanuman's posture have been faithfully reproduced. In spite of the embellishments, there is an understated quality to the sculpture. There is no "in-your-face" bling about it. A lot of time was spent in finding the right kind of documentation to come up with a prototype. "There are so many variations of the same image across the country, so we had to do extensive research after which the piece was created at our workshop in Valencia. We learnt to focus on artistic and technical excellence from the Japanese. We now have the confidence to replicate this for other cultures as well," says Lladró.
Several years go into the making of each collection. For instance, the Ram and Sita sculptures launched last year took two years to be created. Another masterpiece - 'Queen of the Nile' - was six years in the making, with 20 artists required to paint just one side of the barge. Porcelain is a difficult material to work with, because it is a live medium and changes form constantly. Only when the piece goes to the kiln does the artist know if the processes followed were right or wrong. "The kiln is the best judge. If it says you are wrong, you have to start all over again," says Lladró.
After the prototype has been created, it is studied for two years before the masterpiece is crafted at the factory. There are separate artists for each aspect of the sculpture, be it ornamentation or attire - for instance, one person prepares the mould, another one puts in the flower, someone else paints it, another artist paints the faces and so on.
The 'Ram Darbar' collection is available in eight stores across the country