66 - Robert Picault (1919–2000)

Robert Picault (1919–2000) Set of 25 ceramic pieces, consisting of: 4 cups 5 small plates or saucers (one of which has a ribbed pattern) 9 handled containers (including two with pitted surfaces) 4 containers (including one with a pitted surface) 1 candleholder 1 egg cup (with a pitted surface) 1 lidded jar Signed “RP” Circa 1955 Very good condition, except for the noted chips Robert Picault is a French ceramicist based in Vallauris. His work is part of the Vallauris ceramic tradition of the 1950s, alongside that of Roger Capron, Jean Derval, and the Madoura workshop. Having settled in Vallauris after the war, Robert Picault devoted himself to utilitarian ceramics—designed for the table and everyday use—in contrast to the one-of-a-kind pieces for which the village was then renowned. His tableware sets are recognizable by their linear decoration, drawn with a swift stroke, which adds rhythm to simple, sturdy forms. This collection of twenty-five pieces—ranging from cups to lidded pots—showcases the coherence of his work. It emerged at a time when Vallauris, centered around the Madoura studio and the work of Roger Capron and Jean Derval, was becoming the leading center of modern French ceramics.