Climbing Its Way Into Our Hearts - Lladró's Boldblack Koala Sculpture

I'm not a bear!

Attributed to the first Europeans arriving in Australia, koalas have been assumed to be bears in the past but are now appropriately labelled as marsupials like their larger cousins, kangaroos. Marsupials are recognised for having their young born in a relatively undeveloped state and nurtured in a pouch on their mother's abdomen.

Because of their highly solitary nature, they do not have a collective noun like a school of dolphins or a mob of kangaroos. Groups of koalas living in overlapping ranges are referred to as colonies or populations.

Lladró's new Koala Sculpture Black-Gold Limited Edition.

Koalas are iconic to Australia, not only because they are indigenous to the island nation, but due to their deep cultural role in Aboriginal Australians' Dreamtime stories, songs, and art. Their Creation story tells how koalas played their part in helping animals survive rising seas and making their way to mainland Australia. The name 'koala' is said to come from the Dharug people whose traditional lands span from Paramatta to the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, and literally translates to 'no drink' in reference to koalas' ability get all their hydration just from muching on Eucalyptus leaves..

In February 2022, the conservation status of koalas went from vulnerable to endangered, showing an increased need to protect or cute furry marsupial friends. The active conservation of their habitats also protects other important wildlife including possums, greater gliders, wombats, quolls, and other birds and reptiles.

A Limited Boldblack Treatment

Lladró's new release for the second half of 2024 include the new Koala Sculpture Black-Gold made in a limited numbered count of 1000 pieces. This sculpture was designed by one of Lladró's senior sculptors, Virginia Gonzales, who is responsible for making several of their culturally accurate pieces including Frida Kahlo, Lord Balaji, Lord Shiva, and Happy Boy's Day Japanese Figurine, amongst others.

Get yourself an iconic piece of Australia with Lladró's Koala Sculpture, limited to 1000 numbered pieces.

The Boldblack collection focuses on two things: highlighting Lladró's mastery of matt black porcelain - a difficult feat to pull off even today, and pairing the deep black textured porcelain pieces with an elegant touch of gold lustre for a contemporary yet timeless design. The Midas treatment is applied to the koala's ears and a eucalyptus branch for a contrasting effect. The matt black porcelain allows Lladró's textural detailing to come through in the koala's fur, facial features, ear folds, and fingers and toes.

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