Lot 45

In very good condition, some wear to lower edge slip, wooden battens glued to back for mounting


The opinions expressed in the condition reports are a guide only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Prospective buyers are encouraged to inspect articles for sale at our pre-sale viewing where Leonard Joel staff are available for advice.
Leonard Joel makes no guarantee of the originality of mechanical or applied components. Absence of reference to such modifications does not imply that a lot is free from modifications.

Alain Ramié, Picasso: Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971, Galerie Madoura, Vallauris, 1988, pg. 239, no. 455

Before his sixtieth birthday, Picasso had already carved out a lasting place for himself in art history. He had co-founded Cubism, evolved through his various "periods", painted 'Guernica', engraved and etched his famous 'Vollard Suite' and been the subject of many major museum exhibitions. However, Picasso was always searching for new artistic horizons to explore and new ways of experimenting and expressing himself artistically.

In July 1946, he visited the small coastal town of Vallauris in the South of France known for its annual pottery exhibition. Picasso quickly became enamoured with the ceramics being produced by the Atelier Madoura, owned by Suzanne and Georges Ramié, and thus begun a 25-year collaboration, ushering in one of the most prolific periods of his career. Picasso designed 633 different ceramic editions between 1947 and 1971. The process of making ceramics intrigued Picasso, he enjoyed how quickly and inexpensively he could create these new works. He also loved the idea that his works were both aesthetically pleasing and functional - he frequently gifted his pots, plates, pitchers, and bowls to friends and family members. Each piece is modelled by the artist's own hands and infused with his raw energy, the editioned ceramics are each a one-off, offering a unique opportunity to hold an original Picasso.

Rising to prominence in the art market over the past decade, Picasso's ceramics have become one of his most quickly enduring market segments. The works are not only exclusive and limited but also accessible to emerging collectors. The ceramics he produced while working at Madoura have been acquired by some of the most notable collectors of modern art and now appear in museums all over the world including the NGV, Melbourne and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Madeleine Norton | Decorative Arts and Fine Art Specialist

© Succession Picasso/Copyright Agency, 2021