Tripode (A.R. 125)

Conceived in 1951, the present lot is marked ‘47’ for the edition of 75. Tripode (A.R. 125) is a white earthenware clay vase featuring the face of the artist's then companion Françoise Gilot. Her features are accentuated by the bold application of coloured engobe and partial engraving, adding texture to the otherwise smooth glazed surface. Picasso was interested in ancient Mediterranean civilizations, and in incorporated elements of their pictorial language in his ceramic oeuvre. The shape of the vase itself is a reference to the Greek tripod cauldron. Developed in the Geometric period, the tripod served as a powerful Panhellenic religious symbol. He skilfully manipulated this form, creating an unusual bulbous shape which is echoed in the decoration of the three legs. Imaginative and original, the present lot is an example of Picasso’s continuous creative experimentation and exploration in the medium of ceramics.