Exploding The Great Nao Myth by Stephen Church, UK Gift Company Managing Director

We've been stocking Nao figures for nearly forty years and, from the very early days, they've been amongst our most successful collections. But there's always been a myth which really needs exploding. There is a similarity between the style of Nao figurines and that of their 'big sister', Lladro. Both are elegant and stylish. Both evoke emotions of love, affection or devotion. And it's true that the two companies are jointly owned. But here's the myth - someone, somewhere, years ago, peddled the idea that Nao figurines were sculpted and modelled by apprentices from the Lladro factory; when they'd learned their craft, these workers would find themselves 'promoted' to the City of Porcelain, as the Lladro works are known. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The skills required in the production of both Nao and its 'big sister', Lladro are equally exacting. Each brand requires the same degree of skill and craftsmanship at every stage of the production process. So the lesson is, if you love collecting and giving porcelain figurines which are stylish and timeless in their appeal, don't listen to wild rumour. When it comes to excellence in terms of quality and beauty, there's nothing to better Nao.