Retired: 2011
A QUIET CONVERSATION Lladró

What about Gres? I've heard this referred to as "matte," too.

Yes, the terminology here does get confusing. Gres is actually a separate porcelain formula altogether from the regular porcelain formula. Where the regular porcelain is white before it's painted, Gres has color integrated right into the porcelain itself and is further characterized by matte (unglazed) surfaces alternating with enamel paint surfaces. This gives Gres items a rustic appearance; it is also a good formula for the production of ethnic figurines because the skin tones can be rendered more realistically in Gres. Although Gres is also frequently identified with the prefix "1," if the number is in the 2000 or 3000 model number series, it is most probably Gres. There are many fine limited editions done in the Gres formula. The figurine pictured in the photo is Lladró #01011106 Byzantine Head.