LONDON.- Bonhams will hold their first ever Picasso Editions Sale featuring ceramics, prints and jewellery by the most celebrated artist of the 20th century, in Knightsbridge on Wednesday 22nd September. Picasso items have previously been sold in other Bonhams sales, but this will be the first auction to be devoted purely to the work of the artist.

As well as ceramics, there is already a special early consignment of two of the nineteen silver plates designed by Picasso – including one titled ‘Dormeur’, his first experiment in silver. Picasso began designing silver plates in the mid 1950s, following a meeting with the silversmith François Hugo. Having given him the platter ‘Dormeur’ as a model, Picasso was said to have been so pleased with the result that he immediately asked Hugo to create another four like it.

From an edition of just twenty each, both ‘Dormeur’ and ‘Joueur de flute et Cavalier’ are excellent examples of the playful and iconic motifs to be found in Picasso’s editions. They are estimated at £10,000-15,000 each.

The sale has been introduced by Bonhams specialist Ruth Graham who has been with the company since 2008. She is also responsible for sales of Fine Frames, and British and Continental Pictures at Bonhams Knightsbridge saleroom. She comments, “The forthcoming auction at Bonhams offers an exciting opportunity to collect works by one of the 20th century’s most pre-eminent artists. There is always much interest in the work of Picasso, and strong results and continued demand for Picasso’s editions featured in previous auctions, including ceramics, silver and prints, has led to the introduction of this sale dedicated solely to these items.”