It’s hard for us to imagine spending lakhs of rupees on an idol, but if the folks at Lladro are to be believed, their Rs. 6,50,000 Lakshmi has been selling well in India as well as the UK and USA, where NRIs are making a beeline for it.

“We started our Spirit Of India collection in the early 1970s, and have pieces representing Ganesha, Shiva, Lakshmi and Radha-Krishna. We are working on some more as well,” says Rosa Lladro, president of the company.

The first version of their Lakshmi idol, which was created back in 2007, was priced at Rs. 1.64 lakhs and all the pieces were sold. The new one, a far fancier one, boasts a crown, luxurious robes, complex flower garland, high quality porcelain and a diamond-studded nose ring.

Lladro adds, “We have a limited edition of 720 units, but they’ve been well received among collectors and are quickly selling out in India. Even in the USA and the UK, there’s been a great response from the Indians residing there.”