A delicately stylized face gazes out from below the spout of Pablo Picasso Ceramic Face Tankard, 1959. The strokes of blue lines marking the nose, eyes, and lips give the face an almost innocent, playful demeanor. The hand-painted quality of the facial features creates a dynamic expression that changes depending on the perspective from which it is seen.

One of the characteristics that makes Picasso's ceramics so wonderful to behold is the way the form of the ceramic compliments the decorative motifs. In this case, Picasso turns the handle of the pitcher into a stylized pony tail for the face. By integrating the surface decoration into the three dimensional form, Picasso increases the sculptural quality of the work and elevates the pitcher beyond its formal utility function.

Created in 1959, this is a turned pitcher of white earthenware clay with decoration in oxides on white enamel (brown, blue). Numbered from the edition of 300, this work features the inscribed stamps 'Madoura Plein Feu' and 'Edition Picasso' on the bottom.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Pablo Picasso Ceramic Face Tankard, 1959 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices accompanying the final sale of the work):

1. Ramié, Alain. Picasso Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971. Madoura: Galerie Madoura, 1988. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 432 on pg. 228.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.