Lladró "Platero and Marcelino" Figurine #1181 — Retired, Spain
Lladró has been one of the defining names in fine Spanish porcelain since 1953, prized for the delicate realism and quiet emotional warmth of its figurative work. This piece, "Platero and Marcelino," takes its title from Juan Ramón Jiménez's beloved 1914 novella Platero y yo — the story of a man and his devoted donkey, a touchstone of Spanish literature and later a Nobel Prize-winning body of work.
The figurine captures a barefoot boy in a poncho and wide-brimmed hat, arms wrapped around the neck of his donkey in an unguarded embrace. Designed by sculptor Juan Huerta and issued in 1971, the piece carries Lladró's glossy glazed finish, with soft, naturalistic color work throughout.
Model #1181 was retired decades ago and is no longer in production — genuine scarcity, not a marketing description. Condition is excellent throughout, including the hat brim, a spot known to show wear on this particular model.
Maker: Lladró, Spain
Model: #1181, "Platero and Marcelino"
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you". Matthew 6:33