Pablo Picasso

PABLO PICASSO (Malaga, 1881 - Mougins, France, 1973).
"Tête en forme d'horologe", conceived in 1956.
Yellow gold 22 kt. Exemplary 9/20.
Stamped with the artist's signature, the reference number François and Pierre Hugo and numbered "Picasso 1436 9/20" and stamped with the goldsmith's mark and the French mark for gold, on the reverse and on the suspension loop.
The medallion has a gold soldered washer, intended for hanging this piece.
Signed Measurements: 5 cm (diameter).
Weight: 36 g.
Like a sun stopped in time, this yellow gold medallion entitled Head in the shape of a clock encloses the pulse of Picasso's imagination. Its shape refers to a design that the artist himself had captured years earlier on ceramic plates produced by the firm Madoura of Vallauris. Although conceived in 1956, it was not until 1967 that the master decided to transform it into a more intimate piece of jewelry, reducing its scale without losing its symbolic force. Picasso later authorized the sale of these medallions on the market, although they were practically unknown to the art collecting world, perhaps because his intention was to keep them himself or to give them as gifts to friends and family.
Jewelry occupies a prominent place in Pablo Picasso's work, both in his portraits and in his artistic production. Necklaces, brooches, earrings and other accessories not only decorate his models, but often become the protagonists of his compositions. An example is the portrait of Nusch Eluard in 1936, where golden Schlumberger brooches stand out, or the portraits of Helena Rubinstein, where the jewelry even eclipses the facial features.
From the 1930s onwards, jewelry became an integral part of his creative universe. Although he had already designed a necklace for Gabrielle Depeyre in 1916, it was during his relationship with Dora Maar that he developed this facet more intensely. He used old metal frames that he decorated with paintings and engravings, creating unique pieces, similar to small sculptures. He also transformed found objects, such as stones or bones, into figures such as fish, birds or minotaurs, which he gave as pendants to those close to him. These pieces, sometimes portrayed by Dora Maar, reflect his passion for turning simple materials into miniature art.
During the 1950s, Picasso took his interest in jewelry to a new level by experimenting with goldsmithing. In 1956, in his studio at La Californie in Cannes, and with the mediation of the critic Douglas Cooper, he took up the idea of reproducing his ceramic models in precious metals. Although his first attempt in Italy was frustrating, Cooper put him in contact with the goldsmith François-Victor Hugo, a descendant of Victor Hugo. Thanks to this collaboration, exclusive medallions and plates were produced, made with the mastery of Hugo's workshop, known for working with haute couture houses such as Chanel, Hermès and Dior. After the constant insistence of François Hugo, who was convinced of the excellence of the results, Picasso authorized from 1967 the sale of some numbered editions and very short runs, 20 copies maximum. All the pieces were numbered on the back, with the necessary purity stamps and assaying artists. In addition to the 20 copies for marketing.
This artisanal facet reveals a more intimate and playful dimension of the work, where art, affection and matter are intertwined. In fact, the Picasso Museum in Barcelona dedicated an exhibition held in 2021, where it showed only Picasso's work as a jeweler.
Pablo Picasso was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and co-founder of Cubism along with Georges Braque. Born in Malaga, he trained in Barcelona and from a young age showed great creative ability. After his first stages Blue and Pink, in which he portrayed sadness and marginalization, he revolutionized art with cubism and experimented with techniques such as collage.
Throughout his life he incorporated influences from classicism and surrealism, always guided by his innovative spirit. His work reflected both his personal life and historical events, especially the Spanish Civil War, which inspired his famous painting Guernica. He lived between Spain and France, and his works are present in the most important museums in the world.