Lot 229
Robert Picault (French, 1919-2000). Green and white ceramic plate, 1948. Madoura Studio, Vallauris, France. Signed and dated on underside of base. A hand-thrown ceramic plate by Robert Picault, dated 1948, decorated with an abstract avian figure in sweeping green brushstrokes against a cream ground. The rim is encircled with rhythmic vertical strokes, lending the piece both structure and movement. The composition exemplifies Picault's signature approach to reinterpreting traditional culinary forms with bold geometric and figurative designs . Created at the Madoura Studio in Vallauris, where Picault worked alongside Pablo Picasso, this plate reflects the atmosphere of postwar experimentation that defined the revival of Vallauris ceramics. While the form is utilitarian, the painterly decoration transforms the surface into a lively tableau, a hallmark of Picault's ability to bridge functionality and artistry. The underside is signed and dated, underscoring its authenticity. Size: 12" Diameter x 1.5" H (30.5 cm x 3.8 cm)
Such works highlight Picault's contribution to the reimagining of everyday tableware, elevating it into collectible art while retaining its practical essence. His inventive motifs and color palette made him a central figure in the Vallauris movement, and his ceramics remain highly sought after by collectors today.
About the artist: Robert Picault was a French ceramist, designer, photographer, and filmmaker who played a pivotal role in the postwar revival of Vallauris ceramics. A graduate of the School of Applied Arts in Paris, he settled in Vallauris in 1946, where he co-founded the Callis workshop with Roger Capron and Jean Derval. Picault's close friendship with Pablo Picasso led to artistic collaborations and introduced him to figures such as Jean Cocteau, Fernand Leger, Louis Aragon, and Elsa Triolet.
Renowned for updating traditional Provencal culinary forms with bold geometric patterns, Picault developed a distinctive style of utilitarian ceramics. His pieces - decorated with white slip, sgraffito designs, deep blues, or metallic black enamels - are celebrated for their refined yet functional beauty. Today, his ceramics remain highly collectible, while his photographic and cinematographic work documenting Vallauris and his circle has been featured in exhibitions and publications worldwide.
Provenance: private Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA collection
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#196796
- Condition: Some minor imperfections, likely as part of the artistic process. Otherwise, intact and excellent. Signed and dated on underside of base.
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