Artist: Pablo Picasso, Spanish (1881 – 1973). Title: Profil de Taureau Fonce (Ramie 317). Year: 1956. Medium: Painted and Glazed Terra Cotta Plaque, stamped verso. Edition: 450. Ceramic Size: 9.5 in. x 9.5 in. (24.13 cm x 24.13 cm)
Pablo Picasso is without doubt the most widely collected artist of the 20th century. For five years in the 1950’s, Picasso produced ceramic plates, vases and bowls in the Madoura studio in France. The studio was owned by Georges Ramie, who catalogued all of the artwork that Picasso produced during that time. Each plate, vase and bowl is assigned a unique number according to the number in the Ramie catalogue. The prices of Picasso Madoura Ceramics have been on fire lately (no pun intended). The major auction houses – Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips – have now been regularly holding Picasso Madoura Ceramic auctions. Pieces that sold for $2,000 fifteen years ago are going for $8,000 and more now. A collector should consider several factors when deciding from whom to purchase Picasso Madoura Ceramics: When one buys from a foreign seller, one also has to consider the problems of getting the piece through Customs. There are often delays and considerable fees to pay in order to import the item. When purchasing from us, we ship the same day and you receive it via FedEx the next day, no problems or hassles. When one purchases from an auction house, one pays a buyer’s premium of anywhere from 23% to 28% over the “hammer price”. So when one “wins” an auction for $20,000, the actual price paid is more like $25,000. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the price agreed to is the price paid by the buyer, no hidden fees. Secondly, when one purchases from an auction house, the buyer pays the packing and shipping fee, which are usually exorbitant. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the price includes packing and shipping. Thirdly, when one purchases from an auction house, the sale is final. If one receives the piece and is not 100% satisfied with it, there is nothing the buyer can do about it. They are stuck with it. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the buyer has sixty days to determine if they want to keep it. If not, the buyer returns to piece to us for full refund, and we pay the shipping both ways! Fun fact: no one has ever returned a piece to us! Please note also that many Picasso Madoura Ceramics are auctioned at foreign auction houses. When purchasing at one of these auctions, not only are the factors listed above magnified, but one also has to consider the problems of getting the piece through Customs. There are often delays and considerable fees to pay in order to import the item. When purchasing from us, we ship the same day and you receive it via FedEx the next day, no problems or hassles. Many people have asked about a Certificate of Authenticity. Note that the Picasso Estate never has, and does not, issue Certificates of Authenticity. Any Certificates of Authenticity for Picasso Madoura Ceramics are issued by private, independent dealers, including us. We issue a Certificate of Authenticity with each piece we sell. Having said that, to date, there has not been a surfacing of fakes Picasso Madoura Ceramics like there have been with works by other artists such as Rodin, Chagall and Dali. Many people have also asked if we can provide the provenance for a given piece. Unfortunately, we cannot. We are constantly buying Picasso Madoura Ceramics from auctions, estates, private collectors and deaccessioning museums. Most of the time, the seller has no history of ownership. This particular piece is a pristine: there are no nicks, bruises or scratches of any kind. It is really a good value at this price. Please do not hesitate to ask us questions. We love talking about these pieces!
