An inimitable genius with a fierce drive to create, Pablo Picasso constantly explored opportunities to break boundaries and challenge himself in new ways. In the 1940s, this quest led him to an entirely new medium, one that would become one of the most vibrant and creative of his career...

Picasso’s first encounter with ceramics took place in 1946, when he visited a pottery exhibition in Vallauris, France. There he became particularly enamored of the work of Suzanne and Georges Ramié. A friendship quickly developed between the artists, and Picasso eagerly accepted an invitation to visit their workshop in Madoura the following summer, perhaps as a chance to fuse his interests in painting, drawing and sculpture in a previously undiscovered medium. From that moment on, he returned to the workshop for significant periods of work over the next 20 years.

This month, Christie’s present an important private collection of ceramics by Picasso which exemplify the wide range of functional forms and decorative motifs this artist explored in his work at Madoura. The selection of more than 140 ceramics—which includes plates, bowls, chargers, vases, pitchers, and tiles modeled from earthenware or terracotta—highlight many of Picasso’s characteristic themes, such as mythological and anthropomorphic forms, bull-fighting pieces, and animal and human portraits. With estimates ranging from $800–30,000, this occasion marks the perfect opportunity to acquire attractively priced sculptural works that capture the boundless talent and impassioned energy of this unequivocal master.