Lladró has just announced the introduction of the new black porcelain Swimmer and Sprinter to its Sports collection in celebration of the upcoming London 2012 Olympic Games.

Created to complement the existing white porcelain designs, the intricately handcrafted pieces combine a glazed and matte black finish to create tactile and also decorative athletic figures.

From the initial sketching process, which includes detailed studies of the sportsmen’s movement, to firing at high temperatures, the Swimmer and Sprinter pieces are a result of a meticulous artistic process. Every piece has been handcrafted within the Lladró workshop in Valencia, Spain.