The Picasso ceramic numbered A.R. 120, titled “Chouette aux taches” (“Owl with Spots”), is a white earthenware ceramic vase conceived and executed in 1951 at the renowned Madoura pottery studio in Vallauris, France. This work is a striking example of Pablo Picasso’s innovative exploration of ceramics in the early 1950s—an era in which he brought his expressive artistic language to three‑dimensional forms.

Standing at approximately 11¼ inches (28.3 cm) tall, the vase combines both sculptural form and painterly surface decoration. Its silhouette resembles an owl, a subject Picasso depicted frequently, and the surface is adorned with colored engobe and glaze, applied in a way that creates playful spots and dynamic contrasts across the body. The stylised owl motif, rendered through bold, almost graphic shapes and energetic line work, reveals Picasso’s ability to infuse ceramics with personality and movement.

"Chouette aux taches" was produced in a limited edition of 300, with each piece numbered and stamped ‘Edition Picasso’ and ‘Madoura Plein Feu’ on the underside, confirming its authenticity and artisanal origin. The combination of traditional pottery craftsmanship and Picasso’s modernist aesthetic makes this vase both a decorative object and a distinctive work of art, reflecting his creative range beyond painting and sculpture.

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