Valuable antiques aren’t detailed & intricate every time! Sometimes, even the simplest showpiece items, such as the Lladro figurines, fetch good returns when identified correctly!
In fact, some of the rarest & retired Lladro figurines can fetch up to $64,000 in the antiques market! Sounds crazy, right?
Well, Lladro motifs have always flaunted such a high value due to their branded & hand-painted designs. But their final resale cost also changes significantly due to their age, designs, colors, and many more features, as mentioned in the following value guide!
Key Takeaways
- Branded features like stamped logos, barcodes, artist’s signs, and maker marks raise the value of old Lladro figurines.
- Among the ten main themes of vintage Lladro figurines, the handmade classic, elite, religious, and angel themes cost more, usually up to $3,000.
- You can use different ‘Made in Spain,’ ‘Valencia,’ or ‘DIASA’ marks to track your Lladro figurine’s age & value.
- Apart from the regular white & yellow Lladro figurines, even the red, black & brown figurines value up to $2,500.
What Features Raise the Demand & Cost of Old Lladro Figurines?
Old Lladro figurines already cost about $200 – 3,000 because of their brand & hard-paste porcelain finish. But your sculpture might cost more if it has the following features:
- A slightly textured or polished porcelain finish with in-laid or engraved details
- Detailed motifs & designs from nature, everyday life, myths, or regional legends
- Original signs and maker marks like the Bellflower logo
- Realistic clothing, accessories, and expressions
- A printed price tag with the figurine’s name, barcode & logo
- Original cobalt blue stamps and incised numbers on the base
- A hollow, firing hole at the bottom
When & How Did Branded Lladro Figurines Evolve?
Since its inception as a part-time family business in 1953, Lladro faced some strategic ups & downs as follows:
- 1953 – 1958: Juan, Jose & Vicente Lladro, a group of three brothers, started their figurine business in Almàssera, Spain. First, they sold their sculptures through door-to-door marketing, but later, they opened their first shop in Valencia, Spain.
- 1960: The Lladro brothers focused on more figurine themes, blending elements from European furniture, nature, mythology & religion. And since they had more SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) & inventory, they opened more shops in Barcelona & Japan.
- 1970s: The Lladros switched to handpainted global motifs & pastel hues. Slowly and steadily, they opened some franchises in the USA & Puerto Rico. Also, the company introduced machine-made frosted, stained or terra-toned sculptures.
- 1990s: Lladro Figurines established more factories in Tianjin (China), Thailand & Asia. Later, they finalized their trade alliance with Waterford Wedgwood Group PLC, which helped them launch their first direct sales channel – ‘Llado Emotion.’
10 Types of Lladro Figurine Themes & Their Resale Values
By the 1960s, the Lladro brothers started mimicking regional, natural & mythology patterns in their figurines. This led to the six unique collections and themes as follows:
Antique Lladro Figurine Themes | Key Features & Motifs | Era | Estimated Value |
Classic Collection | Realistic children, couple, or family figurines with pastel hues, clothes & expressions | 1950s – 2000s | $50 – 3,000 |
Gres Collection | Features natural farm animals or people figurines with earth-colored, brown finishes | 1965 – 1990s | $100 – 1,500 |
Elite Collection | Uses intricate historical, royal, period, or nautical sculptures | 1970 – 2000s | $30 – 2,000 |
Zodiac Collection | Zodiac-themed figurines for each sign – Libra, Taurus, Gemini, etc. | 1970s – Present | $70 – 800 |
Angel Collection | Detailed angel figurines, each with a wand, wreath, or other flowers | 1960s – Present | $30 – 3,000 |
Religious Collection | Handmade figurines depicting Lord Jesus, the Lady or Lourdes, or other holy inscriptions on a pedestal base | 1970s – Present | $50 – 7,000 |
Don Quixote Series | Themed Don Quixote novel figurines featuring the main character Don Quixote and his faithful squire | 1970s – Present | $200 – 2,000 |
Bride & Groom Series | Realistic bride & groom figurines with ivory, cream, or light pink clothes, gifts, and other romantic settings | 1980s – Present | $50 – 500 |
Ballerina Figurines | Hand-painted pastel figurines with pointed feet and ballet-inspired clothing & hairstyles | 1950s | $100 – 2,500 |
Clown Collection | Funky & whimsical figurines with bold-colored clothes, caps, and eye makeup | 1960s | $50 – 1,500 |
6 Main Factors to Identify & Appraise a Vintage Lladro Figurine
Now, let’s check how different factors like the figurine’s age, finish & style affect its final value:
1. Vintage Lladro Figurines Age & Marks
It’s worth noting that antique Lladro figurines from different eras have different features and marks. For instance, the earliest 1950s sculptures have simple, etched designs, while the later ones flaunt their logos & symbols.
But do such minor changes affect your figurine’s cost? Let’s check!
Get a magnifying glass and observe & note all the etched marks and text on your figurine’s base, walls, or sides. Then match it with the following table for estimated prices:
Old Lladro Figurine Years | Age | Top Collectible Features | Identifying Marks | Average Value |
1950s | 64 – 73 years | Simple, basic figurines with white or yellowish surfaces, matte finishes, and brushed or coarse textures | ‘Made in Spain,’ ‘Valencia,’ & ‘Espanna’ logos | $100 – 7,000 |
1960s | 54 – 63 years | Intricate children, animal, bird, or regional Spanish figurines with pastel hues and rough porcelain finishes | The Bellflower logo (without the word ‘Espana’ | $100 – 3,000 |
1970s | 44 – 53 years | Religious or historical figurines with raised pedestals & Gres (matte brown) finishes | “Lladró Gres Made in Spain” or DAISA (Diseños Artisticos E Industriales) stamp | $30 – 2,000 |
Try to get large, 12-18 inch figurines with handmade pedestals or plinths for an old make. Also, look for minor aging signs like fading, discoloration & scratches.
2. Antique Lladro Figurine Finishes
Old Lladro figurines might have defined & precise hard-paste porcelain cores, but they have so many finishes that affect their condition & worth today!
From matte paints & golden accents to high gloss glazing & prints, each carries tremendous antique value, as shown below:
Antique Lladro Finishes | How to Identify Them? | Average Cost |
Hand-painted Finishes | Look for brushed enamel or oil paint strokes with pastel hues and smooth, matte finishes | $50 – 2,000 |
Gold & Silver Accents | Gold or silver plated border accents, especially around the head, clothes, and jewelry | $100 – 5,000 |
Glazed Figurines | Smooth & reflective finishes, often with pastel hues and glittery pigments | $30 – 3,000 |
Avoid getting Lladro figurines with new-age or mechanically honed finishes, as they have a lower demand today.
3. Old Lladro Figurine Styles
Vintage Lladro figurines were made worldwide. So, each borrowed unique designs from the regional Art movements, leading to various figurine styles – Colonial, Italian, Chinese, etc.
And all of them have different features, colors, and themes that affect their cost. Let’s see how!
Vintage Lladro Figurine Styles | Special Features | Estimated Cost |
Colonial & Victorian | Intricate and carved figurines with everyday cooking or cleaning scenes, hairstyles, accessories | $60 – 700 |
Art Nouveau Era | Curved and patterned figurines with soft pastel and translucent hues | $30 – 1,500 |
Art Deco | Sleek & geometric figurines with white, gold, or silver accents and partly machine-made forms | $100 – 4,000 |
Georgian & Rococo | Floral and natural figurines with fish, animal, or vine motifs, greenish tones, and glossy finishes | $30 – 3,000 |
Spanish & Renaissance | Bold & sitting figurines with religious or biblical scenes, saints & historical references. Might have typical Spanish Tudor-style backdrops, too | $70 – 2,000 |
Romanticism & European | Look for typical French, Italian, or English tea-party figurines with typical light-pink or cream hues and floral or countryside-themed pedestals | $50 – 400 |
Pick vintage Lladro figurines with original ‘Made in USA,’ ‘Japan,’ ‘China,’ or ‘Spain’ stamps for more returns.
4. Vintage Lladro Figurine Colors
If your Lladro figurines have matte white porcelain or yellowish finishes, they might be from the early 1953 – 1960 batch. But if they have more shiny and bold colors – red, blue, green, etc., they might be new, from the 1970s or 80s.
Here’s how to appraise all such colored figurines:
Vintage Lladro Figurine Colors | Average Cost |
White & Yellow | $50 – 4,000 |
Black, Brown, Gray | $40 – 2,500 |
Red & Orange | $30 – 1,500 |
Pink & Purple | $20 – 1,000 |
Blue & Green | $30 – 800 |
5. Lladro Figurine Artists
Among all the different Lladro figurines in the market, the ones signed by famous designers like Julio Fernandez, Fulgencio Garcia, and Amparo Amador are in high demand. And these can often cost double the regular figurine!
6. Retired Lladro Figurines
Even though Lladro has produced most of its figurine collections, it has discontinued some figurines due to outdated designs, low demand, or high effort. Today, such retired figurines fetch a high value due to their limited circulation & handmade creations.
Want to know more about such retired Lladro figurines? Here’s a feature & price list:
Retired Lladro Figurines | Key Features | Retirement Year | Estimated Value |
Flowers of the Season | A Spanish woman with a rose and tulip cart | 2001 | $800 – 3,000 |
I Love You Truly | A simple bride & groom figurine in a ballroom stance | 2005 | $400 – 1,500 |
Medieval Tournament | A horseback knight figurine with full armor and shields | 2004 | $25,000 – 40,000 |
In the Gondola | A typical Italian figurine that depicts a young couple enjoying a romantic Gondola ride | 2004 | $2,000 – 5,000 |
Romeo & Juliet | A hand-painted porcelain figurine depicting Romeo & Juliet in a sad, romantic embrace | 1996 | $250 – 1,000 |
5 Rare & Most Valuable Lladro Figurines in 2023
Now, let’s list the top five rare and most valuable Lladro figures with their features, costs & resale values based on their recent auction sales.
Rare & Valuable Lladro Sculptures | Unique Features | Last Auction Cost |
Lladro Cinderella’s Arrival Sculpture | Limited edition figurine featuring Cinderella in her carriage with Zircon harness & porcelain flowers | $48,000 – 50,000 |
18th Century Coach Sculpture | An aged, Baroque-style white porcelain figurine depicting a detailed carriage, horse riders, and shrubs | $14,500 |
A Grand Adventure Train | A long, 15-inch figurine depicting a train’s engine, two carriages, and passengers on a platform | $66,000 |
Lladro Protective Dragon Figurine | A rare, 24-inch Lladro figurine with hand-painted metallic scales, claws, teeth, & a wide, roaring mouth | $9,200 |
Fox Hunt Sculpture | A large hunting scene figurine featuring three horseback hunters and 6-7 foxes around them | $11,000 |
How Do I Identify My Lladro Figurine?
You can identify authentic Lladro figurines by their stamped cobalt blue logos, country marks, and incised numbers. Also, some might have their original artist signs, factory codes, or import scripts.
What Does ‘DAISA’ Mean on Lladro Figurine?
Used from 1984 – 1989, a DAISA Stamp is a short, abbreviated code for ‘Disenos Artisticos E Industriales,’ a subsidiary of the Lladro figurines.
Should You Store the Boxes of Old Lladro Figurines?
Yes, you should store the boxes of old Lladro figurines as they might have their original paperwork, stamping, or bills that hike the resale value.
Despite their simple, porcelain designs, Lladro figurines fetch tremendous value for their original brand marks, artist signs, and aging clues! So, just dust your piece and remove all the age-old grime and stains to ensure you don’t miss out on any rare, valuable marks!
But if you want to go ahead and build a complete figurine collection, here’s a list of 12 more antique figurines that are worth your money!