Lladró - Figurine - Seated Polar Bear - Porcelain

Lladró – “Seated Polar Bear” – Porcelain Figurine by Juan Huerta, Spain, 1970s

No Reserve Price

A wonderfully charming vintage porcelain “Seated Polar Bear” by the celebrated Spanish porcelain house Lladró, model 1209, designed by sculptor Juan Huerta and first introduced in 1972.

The little polar bear is captured in an unusually gentle and contemplative pose, seated with its rounded body slightly curved and its head subtly lowered and turned to one side. Its expression is particularly appealing — calm, slightly melancholic and almost human in character, giving this small sculpture a remarkable emotional presence.

Executed in Lladró’s characteristic glossy white porcelain, the figure relies almost entirely on form rather than colour. Subtle sculptural details define the folds around the neck, the paws and the soft contours of the body, while the delicately painted eyes and grey-black nose quietly bring the bear to life.

The restrained monochrome treatment gives the piece a remarkably clean and timeless appearance. Despite having been designed more than fifty years ago, its simplicity and rounded sculptural silhouette feel surprisingly contemporary and make it particularly attractive in a modern or minimalist interior.

The figurine measures approximately 9 cm in height. Its compact proportions are balanced by the generous rounded form of the bear, giving the sculpture considerably more visual presence than its dimensions might suggest.

The underside bears the characteristic blue Lladró factory mark, including “Hand Made in Spain” and DAISA, together with impressed factory markings.

Condition

The figurine is preserved in excellent condition. The glossy porcelain surface is beautifully intact, with no chips, cracks or restorations apparent. The delicate painted details of the face are also exceptionally well preserved.

About Lladró

The story of Lladró began in 1953, when brothers Juan, José and Vicente Lladró started producing ceramics in their family home in Almàssera, near Valencia, Spain. What began as a small workshop gradually developed into one of Spain’s most internationally recognized porcelain houses.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Lladró developed an increasingly distinctive sculptural language characterized by elegant forms, delicate modelling and a refined approach to porcelain decoration. In 1969, the company established its famous City of Porcelain in Tavernes Blanques, Valencia, which became the centre of its artistic and technical production.

Lladró became particularly celebrated for figurative porcelain, ranging from elegant human figures to an extensive and highly collectible series of animals. Its production combines traditional porcelain techniques with considerable hand craftsmanship: individual porcelain components are produced using moulds before being carefully assembled, finished, decorated and fired by skilled artisans.

Designed by Juan Huerta and introduced in 1972, this charming seated polar bear is a particularly appealing example of Lladró’s animal sculpture of the period. Its beautifully restrained palette, soft sculptural forms and slightly wistful expression give it a timeless quality — an understated and highly decorative piece of Spanish porcelain that remains as engaging today as when it was first created.