Nao is a brand of figurines made within the Lladró group. Nao porcelain pieces can be identified by their use of colour and light-hearted subject matters, manifested through graceful and simplistic forms.

The Nao figurines are created by a team based within ‘The City of Porcelain’, a complex where over 2000 artisans are based just outside of Valencia in Spain. The history of the Nao brand goes back to 1967 when the Lladró brothers began to collaborate with local porcelain artisans close to Valencia. A new style of porcelain product was born, with the focus being figures with a feel of romanticism, based upon an idyllic time gone by. Lladró named this range done in the new style Rosal, which would later grow into the Nao brand.

Themes that the porcelain was based upon grew as the company expanded - in 1975 the name given to the range was Zaphir. As Lladró’s popularity grew rapidly (particularly across the USA) the Lladró brothers searched for a new name suitable for international markets. The name Nao was used for the brand from 1982 onwards, being taken from the name of sailing boats used at the time of Columbus – suitable for a company expanding into global markets. Hundreds of artists now work in the Lladro porcelain workshop towards creations sold across the globe. However despite international expansion, the Nao brand has sought to retain its original charm and beauty inspired by its homeland.