A RARE AND COLLECTIBLE GOLD 'CENTAURE PHALLIQUE' BROOCH, BY PABLO PICASSO (1881-1973) A rare 22K gold brooch, after the design created for Jacqueline Roque, conceived circa 1960, stamped with the artist's signature, incised 'E. AUT 1/2', with the Francois and Pierre Hugo reference numbered '1521' and '3743', stamped with Francois Hugo's hallmark, published by Ateliers Hugo in 2012, within its original wooden fitted case, length 5.7cm, width 4.4cm A steady pattern from the inauguration of François Hugos’ atelier, one of his first “bijou d’artiste” collaborations was made with Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Arguably the most important figure of the 20th century in terms of art and art movements, Picasso was best known for his painting and sculpture. His integral part in the development of Cubism and Surrealism have been crucial to evolution of modern art. Yet Picasso’s art was not limited to these media and his versatility as an artist is evident in how he turned his hand to decorative arts such as printmaking, pottery and jewellery design throughout his lifetime. In creating jewellery pieces, Picasso was particularly inspired by the female muses in his life. He made necklaces worked from shells and engraved stone amulets for his lover Dora Maar throughout the 1930s, focused on ceramic pendants, brooches and necklaces for Françoise Gilot in the late 1940s and later on, made a large amount of jewellery for his second wife and final muse Jacqueline Rocque. However, his jewellery moved to new heights upon meeting goldsmith Francois Hugo in the mid-1950s. Living in his villa, La Californie’ in Cannes in 1957, Picasso struck up a friendship with Hugo, great-grandson of the eminent French writer Victor Hugo. The two moved in similar circles and were both members of Parisian artistic group known as “Boeuf sur la toit”, which championed modernist artistic movements. Hugo worked for the painter for one or two years before the pair ventured into a collaboration. Always the perfectionist, Picasso had a clear vision of the final product, yet wholly trusted Hugo’s skill and wealth of experience in executing his demands. The partnership which developed between Picasso and Hugo had a huge impact on the latter’s working and personal life, and shortly after the bourgeoning of their friendship, Hugo moved to Aix-en-Provence in the south of France in order to be nearer Picasso. Picasso had always harnessed a keen admiration for gold and became mesmerised by the metalworking process taking place in Hugo’s goldsmithing atelier. Many works were crafted using a specific type of the repousse technique invented by François and aided by his son Pierre. Derived from the ancient methods of jewellery-making, Francois revolutionised the process of goldsmithing, inventing the technique of “repoussé-cisele”. This highly skilled and intricate method of crafting is completed by manufacturing bronze moulds which are then used with 23 carat gold to carry out the process. He also crafted and adapted specific tools to make sure the metal could withstand long hours of repoussage. It was these inventions which captivated Picasso and they have been used at the Ateliers Hugo ever since. Over the course of two decades, the two artists partnered to design and create exquisite jewellery pieces, as Picasso moved to crafting pieces in clay to working in gold upon the discovery of Hugo’s techniques. The pieces were designed by Picasso initially in ceramic and then cast in gold by Hugo at a later date. Much of the subject matter leant towards the portrayal of animal figures, including bulls, fish and centaurs and the jewellery he created was permeated by the themes and interests also seen in Picasso’s painting of this time. The relationship Picasso had to the jewellery he created was one which was fiercely personal. He didn’t produce his creations in large quantities and refused to exhibit them. Instead, they were reserved for the people with whom he was most intimate and were normally given as gifts and treasured by the receiver or else kept for Picasso himself. It was only in 1965 that Picasso permitted the fruits of his collaborations with Hugo to be public in any way. A small number of pieces were made and sold to a limited circle of connoisseurs and friends, whilst some were discretely sold through an elite Parisian gallery, Le Point Cardinal. In 1967, a select number of objects were exhibited in Hugo’s Atelier. Picasso’s interest in gold followed him for the rest of his life and his collaborations with Hugo continued until his death in 1973. The duo also experimented in making pieces outside the realm of gold and created sculptural works, beautiful vases and plates, medallions and compotiers and some pieces in silver. The close tie between Atelier Hugo and Pablo Picasso set the precedence for a host of successful collaborations between globally acclaimed artists and the master-craftsmen of the goldsmithing studio, who were inspired by Picasso and Hugos’ jewellery to work with the goldsmith’s atelier.