In 1947, legendary 20th-century artist Pablo Picasso partnered with Madoura Pottery located in the town of Vallauris in Southern France. Despite having no prior experience with ceramics, the same prodigiousness that marked his career to date was apparent in the endeavor, and he ultimately created thousands of ceramic works and more than 600 different limited-run patterns. Ranging from plates and bowls to small vessels and sculptural pieces, the collaboration proved exceptionally fruitful and lasted more than two decades, and many of the pieces he created were then used as a model for in-house reproductions.
Pablo Picasso, Horloge à la langue (recto); Faunes et fleurs (verso) (A. R. 328) (1956)
Pablo Picasso, Horloge à la langue (recto); Faunes et fleurs (verso) (A. R. 328) (1956). Est. $8,000–$12,000.
Picasso ceramics offer a unique glimpse into the creative vision and experimental nature of the artist’s practice, as over time his choice of form and glaze was honed and refined. Recognized for their bold, abstracted patterns, symbols, and figurations. While sometimes these were created through painted glaze, as he became more familiar with the medium, Picasso expanded his repertoire and crafted three-dimensional motifs on the surface of many of the ceramics.
Currently live for bidding, Artnet Auctions’ 40 Under 10 sale features a selection of Picasso ceramics, including a Oiseau no. 93 (1963), a white earthenware ceramic plate with colored engobe and glaze. Reflecting Picasso’s interest in the natural world, particularly within this medium, a white bird is emblazoned on the front. A perfect example of Picasso exploring the third dimension in ceramics is the dual-sided Horloge à la langue (recto), Faunes et fleurs (verso) (A. R. 328) (1956).
Pablo Picasso, Dora Maar au collier (1937)
Pablo Picasso, Dora Maar au collier (1937). Est. $6,000–$8,000.
Alongside other works by Picasso, such as the drypoint on laid paper Dora Maar au collier (1937), and two etchings, Sueño y mentira de Franco: one work (1937) and Buste de femme au fichu (1939), the sale offers an exceptional array of works from across the artist’s career, and allows collector’s to trace his creative trajectory.
And while Picasso’s paintings frequently fetch prices in the millions, here they are offered within a widely accessible price range. Artnet Auctions’ 40 Under 10 sale showcases exceptional prints and multiples, both modern and contemporary, all under $10,000, presenting an unmissable opportunity to snap up not only a work by Picasso but other influential artists such as Gerhard Richter, Frank Stella, or Alex Katz.
40 Under 10 is now live for bidding through October 31, 2024.