By Jeremiah Christenot
jeremiah@newsroom.byu.edu
Lladro's Christus is at home in Utah.
Utah residents flocked to Provo's Losee Jewelers Tuesday, May 9 to meet Juan Vicente Lladro, Lladro porcelain representative.
The signing event gave Utah residents an opportunity to have Lladro autograph a Lladro Christus.
'The Christus piece made for the Spain temple is very popular here in Utah,' Lladro said.
In addition to the love for the Christus, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are attracted to the porcelain because of the goodhearted nature of his company, Lladro said.
The Christus has become close to Utah residents, and it represents their faith, said JoAnn Losee, co-owner of Losee Jewelers.
The Christus created by Lladro artists drew on inspiration from the original by Bertel Thorvaldsen. The Christus was created in commemoration of the first temple in Madrid, Spain.
Since 1999, when the Christus was given to the First Presidency in Spain, members of the LDS Church have embraced this emblem of Christianity, Losee said.
'It is the religious aspect with Temple Square that gives Utah residents a closeness with Lladro's Christus,' said Steve Densley, Provo Chamber of Commerce president.
There is a cultural aspect of Lladro's work that is of benefit to the community, Densley said.
Lladro spoke highly of both the LDS Church and BYU.
'The university is a peaceful place. The BYU campus is an inspiring place to become a professional,' Lladro said.
Some of Lladro's pieces take more than two years to design. The Lladro board of directors must approve the works before they are made ready for production, Losee said.
Juan Lladro is the son of Vicente Lladro, one of the founding brothers of Lladro porcelain.
With only 10 public appearances each year, this is an extraordinary opportunity, said Donna Broce, Lladro collector.
'I think that the Lladro work appeals to all religions. The Christus is something that brings all religions together,' Broce said.