Pablo Picasso Ceramic Spanish Pitcher (Pichet espagnole), 1954, a decorative, hand-made pitcher, is decorated with an animated and lively figure. The viewer cannot quite discern which figure this piece depicts, though it bears a great resemblance to a bird. Though the face appears human, the sides, dotted with blue colored circles, resemble wings, as if the subject of this piece might also be a bird. Birds were a beloved subject to Picasso, who painted them, sculpted them, and more - modelling them within every medium he attempted. Give the wealth of other ceramic birds that Picasso has made, it is a safe bet to assume that this lovely blue and white creature is a bird as well. Regardless, the decorative engobe detail enlivens this ceramic pitcher, giving it a whimsical energy and a humorous likeness to a real creature, whichever creature it may be.

Picasso Spanish Pitcher works with the shape of the ceramic, utilizing the mirrored spouts on either end as the head and hind-body portion of the animal. Picasso treated some of his more zoomorphic ceramics almost like sculpture, really understanding the form of the clay, and not simply painting upon it. This type of intuition and attention to his art is part of the reason Picasso is such a celebrated artist.

Created in 1954, this original Madoura turned pitcher of white earthenware clay with decoration in engobes (blue and black) is knife engraved with glaze inside. From the edition of 300, this work is inscribed 'EDITION PICASSO' and 'MADOURA' with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and 'EDITION PICASSO' pottery stamps on the underside.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Pablo Picasso Ceramic Spanish Pitcher (Pichet espagnole), 1954 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices accompanying the sale of the work):

1. Ramié, Alain. Picasso, Catalogue of the Edited Ceramic Works 1947-1971, Vallauris, 1988.

2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.