Pottery designed by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) in Vallauris, France, is jumping up in price. At a recent auction, 94 of the 100 Picasso pieces sold above estimate. Highest price, $157,732, went for Picasso’s 1960 “Vase Gros Oiseau Vert” (Big Green Bird Vase). In 2011 another example of the vase auctioned for about $27,000. Picasso visited Vallauris in 1946 and designed a few pieces for the Modoura pottery. He liked the pottery’s work and made 633 different designs over the next 24 years. A friend visited the pottery in 1965 and bought the least expensive thing made, a plate for $25. It is now worth about $1,500.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: (Shown here is similar item) CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2011