PABLO PICASSO
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CERAMICS Ceramics by Pablo Picasso provide a wonderful opportunity for collectors to purchase works of art by one of the most innovative, prolific and celebrated artists of the 20th century for a fraction of the price of his paintings. Picasso himself welcomed the idea of making multiples from his unique ceramics, generally in editions of 50 to 500, and was pleased that they would be affordable to a wide audience. While residing in the south of France in 1946, Picasso attended the first annual pottery exhibition in Vallauris. The artist would later create several original posters to promote this annual event. Though the village has a history of pottery-making dating back to Roman times, local interest in the craft had declined. One of the exhibitors was the Madoura workshop owned by Georges and Suzanne Ramié. In 1936 they had purchased a complex of old buildings and a wood-fired kiln from a closed facility in Vallauris, where they produced plates and art pottery. Picasso became entranced by the Ramiés’ pottery at the show, prompting a trip to their studio.
Pablo Picasso, EXPOSITION VALLAURIS 1961 (B. 1295). Sold at Doyle for $3,250.
Pablo Picasso, EXPOSITION VALLAURIS (B. 1257; CZWIKLITZER 11). Sold at Doyle for $1,500.
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On his first visit to Madoura, Picasso created three small objects: two bulls and the head of a faun. This experience made a strong impression on the artist. He returned the following year with numerous illustrations of ideas he wanted to realize in ceramic form. The Ramiés were delighted to welcome Picasso back, and provided him with an area in which to work. Though the artist had first worked in clay forty years earlier, it was not until he came to Madoura that ceramics truly captured his imagination. Over the next 24 years, he created approximately 3,500 unique ceramic objects and authorized the Ramiés to produce more than 633 numbered editions of his work. The magnificent Service Poisson (Fish Service) from 1947 is among the group of ceramics made during Picasso’s first year devoted to the medium. The 26-piece set, rare to find complete, comprises
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bowls, plates, a platter and a soup tureen. On each he depicted a fish using a vibrant palette including bright shades of yellow, blue and green, evoking the ocean and bright sunlight of the Mediterranean coast.
131 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) SERVICE POISSON (ALAIN RAMIÉ 3-28) Complete 26 piece painted and glazed white ceramic service, comprising one soup tureen, one platter, 12 bowls and 12 plates, 1947, each numbered 45, from the edition of 300, each inscribed Edition Picasso and with the D'Apres Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps, the plates and bowls inscribed with corresponding letters A-X. Largest 16 x 16 inches; 406 x 406 mm. C $60,000-80,000
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137 back
This was a departure from the dark colors found in his art created while living in Paris during World War II with his ex-lover Dora Maar (Lot 145), and a reflection of his newfound happiness--it was at Madoura that he met his second wife, Jacqueline Roque, of whom he created more works of art than of any other woman. She was the inspiration for many of his ceramics, such as Visage from 1955. (Lot 137)
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137 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) VISAGE (ALAIN RAMIÉ 288) Painted and partially glazed (interior only) white ceramic pitcher, 1955, inscribed Edition Picasso and with the Edition Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps on the underside. Height 12 inches; 305 mm. C Collection of Julia Rogoff $6,000-8,000
Lot 145 7
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Picasso embraced pottery-making with the same zeal he had for painting, drawing and printmaking. This resulted in a prodigious creative output that characteristically broke through preexisting boundaries. With many of his works depicting fish and other recurring and beloved subjects, Picasso playfully incorporates the three-dimensional nature of the medium into the design. Utilitarian pieces such as pitchers are transformed into sculptural objects, the entire body metamorphosing into a fish, bird or face.
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133 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) SUJET POISSON (ALAIN RAMIÉ 139) Painted red ceramic pitcher, 1952, from the edition of 500, inscribed Edition Picasso and with the Edition Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps on underside. Height 5 1/2 inches; 140 mm. C Collection of Julia Rogoff $3,000-5,000
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134 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) PICHET ANSE PRISE (ALAIN RAMIÉ 186) Painted white ceramic pitcher, 1953, numbered 149/200, incised Edition Picasso and Madoura and with the Edition Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps on the underside. 8 1/2 x 11 1/4 inches; 216 x 286 mm. C Collection of Julia Rogoff $4,000-6,000
141 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) SUJET COLOMBE (ALAIN RAMIÉ 435) Painted and glazed white ceramic pitcher, 1959, numbered 128/500, inscribed Edition Picasso and Madoura and with the Edition Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps on the underside. 6 x 7 inches; 152 x 178 mm. C Collection of Julia Rogoff $3,000-5,000
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The face was one of Picasso’s most popular subjects in all artistic media, as illustrated in several other ceramic pitchers, plates and the monumental Vase Azteque aux Quatre Visages in this sale.
132 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) SERVICE VISAGE NOIR (ALAIN RAMIÉ 39) Painted and glazed ceramic plate, 1948, from the edition of 100, inscribed Madoura/D/ D’après Picasso and with the Suzanne Ramié monogram DR and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamp on the reverse. 9 3/8 x 9 3/8 inches; 238 x 238 mm. C Estate of Richard and Carole Rifkind $6,000-8,000
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138 side 10
141 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) TÊTES (ALAIN RAMIÉ 367) Painted and partially glazed ceramic pitcher, 1956, from the edition of 500, incised Edition Picasso and Madoura with the Edition Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps on the base. Height 5 3/8 inches; 137 mm. C Collection of Julia Rogoff $2,000-3,000
138 side
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140 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) VASE AZTÈQUE AUX QUATRE VISAGES (ALAIN RAMIÉ 402) Painted white ceramic vase, 1957, incised with number 26/100 and Edition Picasso/Madoura and with the Edition Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps on the underside. Height 21 3/4 inches; 552 mm. C Estate of Hattie Lynton $60,000-80,000
140 side 11
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142 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) QUATRE VISAGES (ALAIN RAMIÉ 436) Painted and glazed white ceramic pitcher, 1959, numbered 232/300, inscribed Edition Picassoand Madoura and with the Edition Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps on the underside. Height 9 3/4 inches; 248 mm. C Collection of Julia Rogoff $4,000-6,000
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146 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) QUATRE VISAGES (ALAIN RAMIÉ 437) Painted white ceramic pitcher, 1959, numbered 148/300 inscribed Edition Picasso and Madoura and with the Edition Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps on the underside. Height 9 1/2 inches; 241 mm. C $3,000-5,000
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136 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) PICHET GRIS GRAVÉ (ALAIN RAMIÉ 246) Painted and partially glazed white ceramic pitcher, 1954, edition of 500, inscribed Edition Picasso and Madoura and with the Edition Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps on the underside. Height 11 1/4 inches; 286 mm. C Estate of Hattie Lynton $8,000-12,000
136 base
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135 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) PAYSAGE (ALAIN RAMIÉ 208) Painted and partially glazed ceramic charger, 1953, numbered 5/200, inscribed and stamped Edition Picasso and with the Madoura Plein pottery stamp on the reverse, framed. 16 3/8 x 16 3/8 inches; 416 x 416 mm. C $7,000-9,000
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139 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) DANSEURS (ALAIN RAMIÉ 388) Painted and partially glazed white ceramic plaque, 1956, from the edition of 500, with the Empriente Originale de Picasso and Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamps on the reverse. 7 3/8 x 7 3/8 inches; 187 x 187 mm. C $3,000-4,000
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Picasso belied the three-dimensionality of ceramic in many of his plates, chargers, and plaques, depicting a flattened image of a traditional painting subject head on, such as Paysage from 1953, suggesting a work on canvas or paper. He created the image of some, including Danseurs, as he would an etching or drypoint, using a tool to carve the lines; however, instead of an etching needle on metal, he used unconventional items such as a kitchen knife to cut into a plaster mold, which was taken from an existing piece of pottery.
Impressions could thus be taken from the plaster matrix to create editions, referred to as Empreintes originales, and bearing the Empreinte Originale de Picasso Madoura pottery stamp. Created by Picasso late in his career, these extraordinary ceramic objects provide us with yet another glimpse into the artistic vision of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.
139 reverse
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144 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) MOTIFS NO. 45 (ALAIN RAMIÉ 465) Painted and partially glazed ceramic plate, 1963, numbered 137/150 and inscribed No 45/Edition Picasso/Madoura on the reverse. 9 7/8 x 9 7/8 inches; 251 x 251 mm. C $3,000-4,000
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PRINTS
127 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) LYSISTRATA (BLOCH 267-272) Book with complete text and six etchings, 1934, signed in pencil and numbered 191 in red crayon on the justification page, from the edition of 1500, bound (as issued), published by the Limited Editions Club, New York, with full margins, with original boards, chemise, and slipcase. Overall 11 3/4 x 9 1/2 inches; 298 x 241 mm. C Collection of Sheldon and Marcia Sacks $2,000-3,000
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128 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) FLEURS DANS UN VASE (BLOCH 674) Lithograph, 1950, on Arches paper, signed and numbered 35/100 in pencil, from Une Visite à Vallauris, published by Éditions du Musée de Vallauris, with full margins, framed. Image 9 3/4 x 6 3/8 inches; 248 x 162 mm. Sheet 24 5/8 x 19 inches; 625 x 483 mm. C $2,000-4,000 129 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) LA DANSE DES FAUNES (BLOCH 830) Lithograph printed in black and cream, 1957, on Arches paper, with the artist’s stamped signature, from the edition of 1000, with full margins, framed. Image 16 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches; 413 x 530 mm. Sheet 19 x 25 3/8 inches; 483 x 645 mm. C $1,000-1,500
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130 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) DOBLE ENSAYO SOBRE (BLOCH 1854; BAER 1479; CRAMER BOOKS 142) Drypoint, 1967, on Japan paper, signed and numbered 31/120 in pencil, with central vertical fold (at left margin) as issued, the full sheet, framed. Plate 6 1/4 x 5 1/8 inches; 159 x 130 mm. Sheet 11 1/8 x 16 5/8 inches; 283 x 422 mm. C Property of an International Collector $2,000-4,000
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146 After Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) TĂŠTE DE BOUFFON Color lithograph, 1964, on Rives BFK paper, signed in blue crayon, numbered 156/200 in pencil, with full margins, unframed. Image 25 1/2 x 19 5/8 inches; 648 x 498 mm. Sheet 29 1/4 x 21 1/2 inches; 743 x 546 mm. C The Estate of Carl Lesnor $9,000-12,000
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145 145 After Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) FEMME ASSISE (DORA MAAR) (CZWIKLITZER 92) Color lithograph, 1955, on Rives BFK paper, signed and numbered 79/100 in pencil, published by MusĂŠe des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, with full margins, framed. Image 36 1/4 x 23 3/4 inches; 921 x 603 mm. Sheet 41 1/8 x 27 1/2 inches; 1045 x 698 mm. C $9,000-12,000
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