The late actor and director Sir Richard Attenborough collected the works over five decades on holidays to the south of France and the Attenborough family have now decided to sell the extensive collection.
Sotheby’s will host A Life in Art: The Celebrated Private Collection of Picasso Ceramics in London from September 23 ahead of the auction on November 22.
Attenborough, who died in 2014, his wife Sheila and their children, enjoyed holidays in the south of France, and travelled to the Madoura pottery studio in Vallauris. They bought their first piece of Picasso in 1954.
Attenborough’s son, the theatre director Michael, recalled the pieces were bought when prices were more affordable.
However, now the 67 lots carry estimates that reach a combined total of £1.5m.
Highlights include the 1950 Grand vase aux femmes nues vase (numbered 8 of 25), carrying an estimate of £250,000-350,000 and the 1954 Tête de femme couronnée de fleurs vase (numbered 48 of 50) with an estimate between £15,000-25,000.
Séverine Nackers, Sotheby’s Picasso ceramics specialist, said: “This is quite simply the best collection of its kind in private hands, infused with the sheer joy that it gave Lord Attenborough and his delight in Picasso’s impish sense of humour.”
Attenborough’s collection was well regarded during his lifetime and in 1984 he contributed to an exhibition of Original Ceramics by Pablo Picasso, held at the Nicola Jacobs Gallery in London.
Attenborough made a lifetime loan of about 100 Picasso ceramics to Leicester’s New Walk Museum and Art Gallery before his death.
