Tête de chèvre de profil (Goat’s Head in Profile)
Decorative art, Ceramic platter • Pablo Picasso (Madoura Studio)
Style & Movement
Modernism / Picasso Ceramics
Medium & Technique
White earthenware clay with oxidized paraffin decoration and white enamel bath; glazed finish
Creation Period
Original design 1952; specific edition produced mid-20th century
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 32 x 51 cm; Oval landscape platter
Subject Description
The reverse shown here belongs to a platter featuring a stylized goat’s head in profile. Picasso often utilized Mediterranean fauna as subjects during his time at the Madoura pottery in Vallauris.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the glaze appears intact with typical minor manufacturing irregularities characteristic of Madoura pieces
Estimated Market Value
$15,000 - $25,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$12,000 - $18,000 USD
Provenance History
Authentic Madoura stamps present; numbered '193/200' and reference 'I. 107'. Likely acquired through a primary gallery or auction house specializing in 20th-century ceramics.
Art Historical Significance
Represents Picasso’s prolific postwar period in Vallauris, where he revolutionized ceramic art by applying his cubist and expressive sensibilities to functional clay forms.
Notable Features
Features the 'Madoura Plein Feu' and 'Edition Picasso' impressed stamps; hand-numbered 193 of a limited edition of 200; includes the Ramié catalogue raisonné reference number I. 107.
Condition Issues
None visible from the reverse; potential for minute surface scratches or age-related crazing in the glaze consistent with period earthenware.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain in a climate-controlled environment; avoid direct sunlight to preserve pigment integrity; use professional museum-grade plate hangers if wall-mounted.