Cavalier sur sa Monture thumbnail 1
Cavalier sur sa Monture thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 142, The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Gallery

Cavalier sur sa Monture

Pitcher
ca. 1951 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The main body of the vessel consists of a large cylinder, tapered to a point at its upper end and rounded at the other, which stands at an angle on its rim upon a low, spreading, convex base. From the mid-point of this container rises a tapering cylindrical neck broadening out into a cup-shaped mouth; and from the point where the cup begins, stem two sweeping strap handles which curve outwards and backwards in large loop, terminating at the sides of the cylinder.
The front underside of the vessel is painted in black with an animal mask and with legs below; the belly, back legs and tail are similarly indicated round the sides. The mouth is painted with a face at the front and with black and brown striping; the neck is decorated with black and white diagonal check on a brown ground, and the impression of a rider is conveyed by painted 'legs' continuing down the sides of the vessel and terminating in spurred boots.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleCavalier sur sa Monture (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware painted in black and brown with scratched detail.
Brief description
Pitcher, 'Mounted Cavalier', tin-glazed earthenware with painted decoration, painted by Pablo Picasso and made in France at the Madoura Pottery, about 1951
Physical description
The main body of the vessel consists of a large cylinder, tapered to a point at its upper end and rounded at the other, which stands at an angle on its rim upon a low, spreading, convex base. From the mid-point of this container rises a tapering cylindrical neck broadening out into a cup-shaped mouth; and from the point where the cup begins, stem two sweeping strap handles which curve outwards and backwards in large loop, terminating at the sides of the cylinder.
The front underside of the vessel is painted in black with an animal mask and with legs below; the belly, back legs and tail are similarly indicated round the sides. The mouth is painted with a face at the front and with black and brown striping; the neck is decorated with black and white diagonal check on a brown ground, and the impression of a rider is conveyed by painted 'legs' continuing down the sides of the vessel and terminating in spurred boots.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41.6cm
  • Maximum length: 31.5cm
  • Maximum width: 26.3cm
Production typeUnique
Gallery label
Picasso's ceramics occupy as important a place in his oeuvre as his multi-media sculptures. In his enthusiasm for ceramics, Picasso successfully challenged traditional divisions in the arts world and made a major impression on a new generation of potters. Picasso (1881-1973) worked at the Madoura Pottery, run by the Ramié family in Vallauris, inland between Cannes and Antibes on the French Riviera. The area has a long tradition of pottery-making, mostly of the useful, country variety. Picasso first visited the Madoura Pottery in 1946 at the age of 65, and continued to work there at intervals for many years. Having discovered the possibilities of this new medium, he produced decoration on vases and moulded dishes and small-scale scuptures, for all of which he made the original models. Most of these were painted by Picasso himself. In his book 'Picasso's Ceramics', published in England in 1975, George Ramié lists over 700 different designs. Over 200 examples are illustrated in the Royal Academy's 1998 catalogue to their exhibition 'Picasso: Painter and Sculptor in Clay'.(1998-2004)
Credit line
Given by Pablo Picasso
Bibliographic reference
Beechey, James and Humphreys, Richard, eds. Picasso and Modern British Art . London: Tate Publishing, 2012. p 189, ill 188. ISBN 978 1 85437 8903
Collection
Accession number
C.15-1958

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Record createdMarch 24, 2006
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