"The Queen of the Nile". Lladró

"Queen of the Nile". LLADRÓ.
Polychrome and glazed porcelain.
Made by the sculptor JUAN CARLOS FERRI HERRERO.
On wooden base.
Series limited to 100 copies.
Certificate of authenticity attached.
Measurements: 160 cm (length) and 75 cm (height).

This magnificent sculpture of high porcelain Lladró is one of the most complex and ambitious creations of the Valencian firm. Designed by sculptor Juan Carlos Ferri Herrero in 2006, this limited edition piece is a sumptuous recreation of a royal barge sailing down the Nile River, evoking the splendor of Ancient Egypt.

The composition is a riot of luxury and detail, depicting Queen Nefertari, wife of Pharaoh Ramses II, as an almost divine figure at the center of courtly life.

The queen, majestically attired, occupies an elevated throne beneath an ornate canopy, while being fanned by two burly servants flanking her. At her side, a small child, who could symbolize the continuity of the dynasty, observes the scene.

In front of the throne, two maidens dance sensually. On the left, three musicians enliven the journey playing ancient instruments, such as a long-necked lute, contributing to the atmosphere of opulence.

The ceremonial boat is a work of art in itself. It is shaped like a sacred bird, and its entire hull is profusely decorated, combining Ancient Egyptian ritual scenes and floral motifs such as the lotus flower. At the stern, a helmsman guides the vessel with large oars.

"The Queen of the Nile" is a monumental work that stands out for its technical and artistic complexity. The meticulousness in the recreation of the clothing, jewelry and decorative elements, as well as the delicacy in the modeling of each of the twelve figures that make up the scene, make it an emblematic piece of the Lladró collection.

The Lladró firm of artistic ceramics and porcelain was founded in 1953 by brothers Juan, José and Vicente Lladró, who created their first pieces with an experimental vocation, in a Moorish oven built in their own home in Almàssera, Valencia. In this way they gave vent to their artistic restlessness while working in a tile and tableware factory. In 1958 the three brothers decided to dedicate themselves exclusively to their own production, and moved their small business to the neighboring town of Tabernes Blanques. By this time, the demand for Lladró creations reached unexpected dimensions. The brothers introduced innovations not only in the design and style of the figures, but also in the firing techniques, managing to reduce firing from three stages to one. Single firing is a pioneering method that makes it possible to obtain the crystalline finish and pastel shades characteristic of Lladró pieces. A growing number of sculptors, chemists and decorators multiplied the work of the founders, and by the end of the fifties the first Lladró store was opened in Valencia. In the following decade, the company's exporting vocation began to take on importance, and the firm entered the Canadian and American markets.