Seven previously unseen ceramic works by Pablo Picasso, created between 1947 and 1964 in Vallauris, are going on sale at Piguet Auction House in Geneva on June 19.
A rare group of ceramic pieces by Pablo Picasso—never before exhibited—went on view this week and will be auctioned on June 19 in Geneva, Switzerland, by Piguet Auction House. The seven unique works were crafted by the artist between 1947 and 1964 at the Madoura Pottery Workshop in the southern French town of Vallauris. Following Picasso’s death, these pieces were gifted by his family to a close family friend and remained in a private collection for forty years. This week marks their first public showing before heading to auction.
Each plate and platter features hand-painted symbols from Picasso’s signature visual language: doves, goat heads, fish, bulls, and birds. Every piece tells its own story. Bearded Man, a fine brick-shaped tile, and a plate adorned with fish motifs are expected to fetch up to 30,000 Swiss francs (around $37,000), while two platters featuring doves are among the auction’s highlights with top estimates of 50,000 Swiss francs (approximately $61,500).
According to Adeline Bisch Balerna, head of Piguet’s painting and sculpture department, Picasso was by this time already an “artist who had revolutionized art history” and was seeking new modes of expression. Ceramics became one of his creative playgrounds. The facilities at Madoura provided him with fresh opportunities in both material and form.
Piguet director Bernard Piguet points out that Picasso’s drawings have now reached near-unattainable prices, while ceramics still offer “reasonable entry points” for collectors:
“These pieces are original works by Picasso—each one is as unique and singular as his paintings.”
The auction is not limited to ceramics. Two works on paper from the same private collection—never previously seen on the art market—are also up for sale: an ink and watercolor piece titled Serenade (1919), and a pencil drawing from 1962 titled Famille balzacienne. The latter is estimated to sell for up to 120,000 Swiss francs.
Also included in the sale is a never-before-exhibited 1959 blue monochrome by French artist Yves Klein. Painted in the artist’s signature International Klein Blue, Monochrome bleu sans titre is a powerful reminder of Klein’s timeless obsession with blue and the enduring legacy he left behind despite his short life.
