Mains Au Poisson (Fish In Hands) Bowl, 1953; Partially glazed terracotta earthenware engraved bowl painted in colors; Numbered 114/250; 'EMPREINTE ORIGINALE DE PICASSO' and 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' pottery stamps on the underside; Size - Diameter: 11 3/4"; Catalogue Raisonne: A.R. 215; Unframed.
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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it." - Pablo Picasso
"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it." - Pablo Picasso
During the late 1940s, Pablo Picasso spent the summers on the Cote d'Azur in the South of France. There the artist visited Vallauris for the annual pottery exhibition in 1946. He was impressed by the quality of the Madoura works and was introduced to the owners, Suzanne and Georges Ramié. The Ramiés welcomed the famous artist into their workshop and gave him access to all the tools and resources the he needed in order to work in the medium of ceramics. In exchange, the Ramié family would produce and sell his limited edition ceramic works and this relationship spanned 25 years. It was also at the Madoura factory in 1953 that Picasso met Jacqueline Roque, who would become his second wife in 1961.
Back of Mains Au Poisson (Fish In Hands) Ceramic Bowl 1953 by Pablo Picasso.
The Market for Picasso ceramics has been steadily rising as outlined by a recent article:
"Over the past 10 years, the market for Picasso ceramics has steadily grown, with seasoned collectors and new buyers alike vying for Picasso's editioned and unique ceramics at auction. This market is stable, with a steady high sell-through rate around 89% (87% in 2004, 89% in 2005, 87% in 2011, and 90% in 2012), and prices that are still lower than the rest of Picasso's work. The broad range of estimates and sales prices help make this market attractive to many collectors, but also explain the high average sales prices, which are skewed by a few exceptional pieces. In the previous two years, more than 60 exceptional ceramic works sold for over US$100,000: 34 in 2011 and 29 in 2012 (vs. six in 2004 and 2005)." - The Story Behind Picasso Ceramics, by Fanny Lakoubay and Conner Williams, 2013
"Over the past 10 years, the market for Picasso ceramics has steadily grown, with seasoned collectors and new buyers alike vying for Picasso's editioned and unique ceramics at auction. This market is stable, with a steady high sell-through rate around 89% (87% in 2004, 89% in 2005, 87% in 2011, and 90% in 2012), and prices that are still lower than the rest of Picasso's work. The broad range of estimates and sales prices help make this market attractive to many collectors, but also explain the high average sales prices, which are skewed by a few exceptional pieces. In the previous two years, more than 60 exceptional ceramic works sold for over US$100,000: 34 in 2011 and 29 in 2012 (vs. six in 2004 and 2005)." - The Story Behind Picasso Ceramics, by Fanny Lakoubay and Conner Williams, 2013
Close up of the edition number, 'EMPREINTE ORIGINALE DE PICASSO,' and 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' pottery stamps.
The famed artist Georges Bloch stated of Picasso’s ceramic works:
"…in approach, material and technique is as novel as it is interesting. Pottery, gleaming white discs with relief designs, monochrome or brightly coloured ovals, dishes and even jugs and vases here serve as bearers of compositions whose themes express the joyous, life-loving side of Picasso’s work. They are printed from blocks and stamps fashioned by the master over a period of more than twenty years in the Madoura pottery workshop in Vallauris.”
"…in approach, material and technique is as novel as it is interesting. Pottery, gleaming white discs with relief designs, monochrome or brightly coloured ovals, dishes and even jugs and vases here serve as bearers of compositions whose themes express the joyous, life-loving side of Picasso’s work. They are printed from blocks and stamps fashioned by the master over a period of more than twenty years in the Madoura pottery workshop in Vallauris.”
This
is a large 11 3/4" diameter original ceramic bowl by Picasso, who would often draw inspiration from ancient works of art. The choice of subject matter goes back to late fifth century BC when "fish plates" were first introduced in Athens. The choice of decoration for the plates was primarily vertebrate fish, but other marine creatures would often be incorporated, with the animals surrounding the outside perimeter of the plate. The majority of surviving "fish plates" originated in Southern Italy from the early fourth century BC, and were created by Greek settlers to that region. With this piece, Picasso reinvents the "fish plate" by first morphing the plate into a shallow bowl. He then places the fish in the center and incorporates a pair of hands seen above and below the fish, as if the creature were being caught and and placed into the bowl. The high contrast choice of colors further enhances the composition, with the fish being white with green accents that is set against the terracotta hands. The background is black and the perimeter of the bowl is decorated with rich bold blue half circles. An absolutely
wonderful piece of original Pablo Picasso artwork, perfect for any
art collection!
