LONDON.- Christie’s week of ‘Impressionist & Modern Art’ auctions in London in June includes two sales at South Kensington: the annual auction dedicated to Picasso Ceramics on 25 June, followed by Impressionist & Modern Art on 26 June 2015. A total of 275 works of art will be offered across the two days of sales at Christie’s South Kensington, presenting art works that span Fauvism, Surrealism and Impressionism together with over 120 ceramic editions by Pablo Picasso.

Christie’s sales have demonstrated a continued demand for Pablo Picasso’s ceramics, with an increased interest in this side of his oeuvre ever since the landmark sale of The Madoura Collection of Picasso Ceramics at Christie’s South Kensington in 2012. The iconic forms and playful motifs of Picasso’s vases and sculptures, plates and pitchers appeal both to seasoned and new collectors, looking for a statement piece for their home and to own an artwork by the 20th century master. With estimates for his ceramics starting at just £800 in the June Picasso Ceramics sale, this ever popular area of collecting remains accessible for first-time buyers. For the connoisseur, a highlight of the sale is a rare Example Editeur terracotta vase, Personnages et têtes (A.R. 242) (estimate: £40,000-60,000). Conceived in 1954 and executed in a numbered edition of 25 together with two Exemplaire Editeur examples, this large vase displays accentuated sculptural and painted elements.

The Impressionist & Modern Art sale presents an exceptional selection of Fauve works by artists such as André Derain and Henri Manguin, and Surrealist works by Giorgio de Chirico, Joan Miró and André Masson. The auction also boasts a group of avant-garde German, Austrian and Italian art. Highlights include a pastel and brush and India ink on paper by Henri Manguin titled Etude pour Les gravures (estimate: £8,000-12,000), the first study for the oil Les Gravures now in the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid; André Derain’s Environ de Carrières-sur-Seine (estimate: £30,000-50,000) and Venezia by Giorgio de Chirico (estimate: £40,000-60,000).

The viewing for both sales opens on 20 June and the auctions will conclude the June season of Impressionist & Modern Art at Christie’s in London.