Cavalier and Horse Wine Jug

In the summer of 1946, Picasso visited the Madoura pottery workshop run by Suzanne and Georges Ramié. Captivated by a technique that combined sculpture, drawing and painting, the following year he settled in Vallauris and began to explore this new means of expression in earnest. Working with Picasso, Madoura produced a little more than 630 plates, bowls, vases and pitchers. The shapes and motifs were often inspired by ancient Mediterranean pottery. This wine pitcher features one of the workshop’s traditional shapes, which the artist used as supports. Taking mischievous advantage of the pitcher’s attributes, he drew the horse’s flank on one of the sides, its head and neck on the spout, and its tail on the base of the handle. The knight in armour stands at the front of the pitcher.