Do you love figurines, or not so much? I’m somewhere in the middle…not a collector, but I do love Lladros…and this beautiful lady. And here, is her story~
Those of you who read CHN may recall that my parents, little brother, and I came from Cuba in 1961. We left EVERYTHING behind…yep, a few articles of clothing in two duffle bags and nothing more. And “she” was part of what we left behind.
My grandmother returned to Cuba once (you can read about what she brought back from that trip HERE), but the rest of us, for various reasons, have never gone back.
So when a friend of my mother’s was going to Cuba several years ago, she offered to take much-needed supplies to our family there, AND she asked my mother if she wanted her to bring anything back. My mother’s request was simple: please bring something from our home…anything. And that is how “she” came back to us.
I have no memories of her, but I find her uniquely beautiful. While many figurines have non-descript faces, hers is refined, and detailed, and happy. Isn’t her smile lovely? Her eyes smile too.
She’s showing wear…she’s an elderly lady now, and it is fairly certain that her life was not easy post-1961.
The flowers in her right hand are long gone, as are her feet (oh, I bet her shoes were lovely, don’t you think?), but the remains of glue speak to the fact that she was loved and the effort that was made to preserve her.
As a lady, her dignity and beauty remain.
Her pedigree is questionable—her marks simply say “Italy” and “FP”—but that’s not important.
Her other flowers are intact.
Her lovely porcelain neck and upper shoulder are also damaged. Isn’t her bench exquisite?Thanks for stopping by. Please leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I read every single one of them! They encourage me and inspire me. And if you like what you see a lot J, maybe you’d like to +1 this post too! Thank you!
I will be joining these fun parties; please stop by to see all the great things there!
Mop It Up Mondays at http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/ (thru Feb.)
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at http://houseinroses.blogspot.com
Metamorphosis Monday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Newbie Party on Monday at http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/
Before and After Monday (1st Monday of the mo.) at http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/
Masterpiece Monday at http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com
Tuesday’s Treasures http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/
Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/
Wow Us Wednesdays at http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
Winter Blues Party at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/
What's It Wednesday at http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Voila! French Inspiration on Thursdays at http://frenchcupboard.blogspot.com/
Gina at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/ for the Valentine Party
Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Open House Party Thursday http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com
Transformation Thursdays at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/
Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Potpourri Friday at http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
Inspiration Friday at http://www.atthepicketfence.com
Thrifty Things Friday at http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/
Vintage Inspiration Friday at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home Friday at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Feature Yourself Friday at http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/
Saturday Nite Special at http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
Weekend Wrap-up Party at http://tatertotsandjello.com/
Seasonal Sunday at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com
Sunday Showcase Party at http://www.bystephanielynn.com/
Wishing you love on Valentine's Day and always,
from my Chickadee Nest to yours~
~Zuni
Despite the wear she is quite beautiful and carries such wonderful memories. She must be one of you most beloved posessions.
ReplyDeleteShe really is prized. I've never done a post on just one item, but I'd been thinking about her lately after I got a Lladro recently. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteShe is beautiful, Zuni! I also have a collection of Lladro's, although I haven't gotten anything new in recent years.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, another shared interest with the Lladros, Kathy! I forget where you live. We should try to meet sometime. I surely do love Lladros, though I only have 3--two of them my grandmother got for me when she traveled to Spain many years ago. My mother has a much larger collection.
DeleteWhat a priceless treasure for you and your family Zuni.
ReplyDeleteImagine what tales she could tell if only she could speak x
As I did this post, Neesie, I actually thought about the stories she could tell, then I forgot to mention it! I'm sure she has seen her share of sadness. I'm glad she was captured at a happy moment. :)
DeleteThis is really, really special, Zuni. It makes me so sad to think of your family leaving their home. Now you are reunited with this lovely piece. How much she has seen! A true treasure with a very special story to tell.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Cynthia. She IS a treasure!
DeleteShe is beautiful! Thanks for sharing her today! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you think she's beautiful too. Thanks for visiting, Cindy.
DeleteWhat a shame you had to leave everything behind. When I still taught I had a principal whose wife came from Cuba. Part of her family still lived there. They had nothing and tried to send them things we take for granted. I pray someday those people will be free.
ReplyDeleteSo you know the stories well, then, Kathleen. It's amazing to me that of the family we had left there when we left, there are only two still living. The others passed away without our seeing them again, and we don't know the "new" family members. Yes, we take a lot for granted. Your prayers for the people who still live there are needed and appreciated.
DeleteOh, Zuni! How wonderful that you were able to get your figurine from Cuba! My uncle was a painter and all his pictures have been lost to the family. It's so sad that we were not able to save even one.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I, too, have a few Lladró figurines; two of them we bought on our honeymoon in Spain and the last one was given to me by my husband upon the birth of my second baby. I'm like you when it comes to figurines, somewhere in the middle. I like them but don't necessarily want to fill my house up with a lot of them.
I bet you'd give anything to have just one of your uncle's paintings, wouldn't you, Maria? All (well beyond figurines and art)that was lost in Cuba is very sad. I like figurines just as you describe--to represent something very special, or because, like all art, they speak to you. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteWhat a treasure! To bring it from Cuba to cherrish her forever sweet friend. I like figurines like you, I don't collect, but your is lovely!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
FABBY
Hi, Fabby. Thanks for visiting and sharing in my "Figurine Love."
DeleteZuni ~ what a sweet story and special treasure. How happy you must be to have her in your home.
ReplyDeleteCindy
Very happy...I keep her in a place where I can see her often. Thanks for visiting, Cindy.
DeleteWhat a delicate lady! I'm not a collector, either, but I do enjoy looking at pretty figurines. I have only one Lladro - a gift from a client - and it is very special to me as this one is to you.
ReplyDeleteI saw your sweet Lladro angel in a recent post...that's can see why he's special to you--he brings memories of someone who thought enough of you to give you such a gift. Thanks for visiting, Alycia!
DeleteStopping by for the first time and so enjoyed this very sweet post! The figurine is most lovely and the story is touching. I am very happy to visit with you this evening.
ReplyDeleteKindly, Lorraine
Thank you for visiting and your sweet comment. I'm off to visit you and follow if you have the followers spot. I hope you'll follow me as well.
DeleteThis artificial lady look so beautiful.Blue color cloth look so beautiful on this lady.Thanx to share with us.I really enjoy this blog.
ReplyDeletegrand rapids lasik
she is beautiful~and such a great story to add to her meaning. I too have a few collectibles that have a place in my heart. After two moves in one year, I only kept what had meaning.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen, for stopping by. We eventually get down to what truly has meaning, don't we?
ReplyDeleteShe is just lovely.
ReplyDeleteDee
Thank you, Dee. It's pretty cool that so many nice ladies like you have liked her too.
DeleteWhen I was a little girl I used to have porcelain figurines just like this. She's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm stopping over from the newbie party and I am your newest follower (via Linky Follower and Google)!
I'd love for you to come check out my (newbie) blog too and follow back, if you're so inclined.
Have a wonderful night,
Sarah
www.adventuresofourfamily.com
Thanks for visiting! I can't believe you had one of these! Wow! Just visited you, commented, and am following you! Welcome!
DeleteZuni, your appreciation of the details & the history of this piece are very touching. I can't imagine leaving my home & my country & everything I knew & loved behind to go to a new & strange place! I'm so glad that you & your family did, though, otherwise I probably would never have "met" you!
ReplyDeleteI only have 2 Lladros...the nurse & an angel, both gifts from my daughter. Oh & DH has the golfer...almost forgot him. LOL
Hugs,
Rett
Hi, Rett. Your sweet message as always--I'm so glad blogging has brought us to meet each other. The figurines you have are exactly as I like them--when they mean or represent something. That's when they are truly beautiful, because of what they mean. ~Zuni
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ReplyDeleteVery, very pretty! I love things like that. I'm planning to keep up with my blogspot blogs the same way I always have since that's not going to change. I'm glad you're blogspot. You'll still come up on my home page.
ReplyDeleteShe is still so beautiful. My mom has lots of these types of figurines...they're just timeless. Thanks so much for linking this up with Mop It Up Mondays at i should be mopping the floor last week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
ReplyDelete{HUGS},
kristi
She is really beautiful and I loved the story of how this piece came back into your lives. Thanks for sharing this at the Open House party. hugs, Sherry
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely treasure you have from your past! I am so glad you have given this special lady a place in your home. Thank you for joining TTF and have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteI'm like you, not a collector of figurines, but who doesn't like Lladros!! That one is gorgeous and the sweet story is what makes it so precious!! Good luck on using the water slide decals, holler if you have any questions, good luck!
ReplyDeleteCarol
Hi Zuni!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm with you and fall somewhere in the middle...I love CERTAIN figurines...The ones that "speak" to me...And yours certainly does! She's absolutely lovely, and made all the more so by how long it took for her to reunite with you...I could cry (seriously) I'm so glad at least she was returned. It's terrible that you had to leave behind all that you knew and loved. Vanna