This article presents a Pablo Picasso ceramic mask, AR310 Mask (1956), available for sale through Leona Craig Art in Hong Kong for US$21,000. The work is an edition of 300, made from A.R. white clay with engobes and oxidized paraffin decoration. The provenance describes how Picasso first visited Vallauris in 1946 after a Paris exhibition, was inspired by ceramicist Suzanne Hammier, and later returned with Matisse and Chagall to see his fired pieces, eventually staying for nearly thirty years.
This listing matters because it offers a relatively accessible entry point into Picasso's ceramic output, a less monumental but highly collectible aspect of his practice. The work's connection to Picasso's long collaboration with the Madoura pottery studio and its limited edition status make it significant for collectors seeking authenticated pieces by a blue-chip artist. The article also underscores the enduring market for Picasso's work across media, from his multi-million-dollar paintings to more affordable ceramics.