Picasso designed 633 different ceramic editions between 1947 and 1971, with a number of variants and unique pieces resulting from these initial works. Although he began by producing decorated utilitarian objects, such as plates and bowls, he later produced more complex forms such as pitchers and vases — their handles occasionally shaped to form facial features, or anatomical parts where they depicted animals.

Over the course of his lifetime Picasso explored a number of different ceramic techniques, experimenting with paint, playing with form, or engraving the clay’s surface. Eventually, extensive research led him to adopt two main production methods. The first was based on the painstaking replication of an original object by hand, following its form and decoration as closely as possible. The second saw the artist create original images in dry clay moulds, transferring a design onto fresh clay — works made using this method carry the mark Empreinte originale de Picasso.

Picasso produced more than 3,500 ceramic designs, including plates, vases, dishes, tiles and pitchers. His imagery highlighted mythological and classical motifs and often included bullfighting scene, a visage plate, an owl, goat or fish plate, or a portrait of his last muse and second wife, Jacqueline Roque, each work will sit differently depending on the surroundings — a particular design might fit better in one room than in another, depending on its shape and colour.

Every ceramic produced by Picasso features a stamp or marking, which can be found on the underside of the work, on the reverse — or even inside the piece itself. Some editions also feature their edition number (e.g. 1/40) or a date. These stamps and markings differ from one edition to another, and evolve over time. The most common, however, are ‘Madoura Plein Feu’, ‘Empreinte Originale de Picasso’ and ‘Edition Picasso’.