Lladró | Ready for Practice | Limited Edition Porcelain Figurine | No. 919/3000 | Javier Molina | 2010 | Spain

To catch two figures in an unguarded moment — before the performance, before the audience — is to find the quiet discipline that lies behind the art.

Lladró has, since 1953, established a reputation for finely modelled porcelain figures produced in Valencia, Spain. Central to this success is the work of a small group of sculptors whose names are closely associated with particular themes. Javier Molina is among the most respected of these, particularly known for his ballet compositions, which combine technical precision with a strong sense of narrative and balance.

Ready for Practice is a limited edition issued in a worldwide run of 3,000 examples, this piece being number 919. The base carries the blue Lladró backstamp — Hand Made in Spain, © DAISA 2010 — together with the incised signature of the sculptor, Javier Molina, and that of the decorator, Paula Martí. The presence of both signatures marks this as a fully documented and carefully finished example. 

The composition captures two young ballerinas in a moment of quiet preparation. One sits on a Louis XVI-style settee, her legs drawn up as she adjusts a ballet slipper, her posture inward and focused. She wears a pale leotard with a pale blue tutu base, the folds rendered with a convincing sense of weight and movement. Behind her, a second figure leans lightly across the back of the settee, her arms resting along the top rail as she looks down in easy companionship. She is dressed in a pale blue long-sleeved leotard and skirt, her hair gathered neatly in a bun.

The settee itself is fully realised: teal quilted upholstery rendered in textured relief, set within a gilt frame featuring a central rose cartouche, scrolling arms, and fluted tapering legs with gilt banding. The modelling throughout is of a high standard — hands, feet, and facial features are carefully defined, while the flesh tones are built up with the subtle tonal gradation characteristic of Lladró’s finest work.

The condition is mint. There are no chips, cracks, crazing, or repairs. The glaze is flawless throughout, and all elements remain structurally sound.

Key Details

• Maker: Lladró, Hand Made in Spain
• Title: Ready for Practice
• Edition: Limited to 3,000 — No. 919/3,000
• Date: © DAISA 2010
• Sculptor: Javier Molina (signed)
• Decorator: Paula Martí (signed)
• Material: Glazed porcelain
• Condition: Mint — no chips, cracks, crazing, or repairs

Collector Appeal

• A limited edition Lladró figure with clearly defined edition number
• Dual-signed by both sculptor and decorator — a desirable feature for collectors
• A refined ballet composition, appealing to both Lladró collectors and dance enthusiasts
• Strong decorative presence with a well-balanced, narrative composition
• Suitable as a statement cabinet piece or high-end gift

A composition that captures not the performance itself, but the discipline and quiet focus that make it possible.