The world record for a Picasso ceramic edition at auction is up 176.6% after his Grand vase aux femmes voilees sold for £735,650 ($1.1m) during day one of the Picasso Ceramics: The Madoura Collection auction at Christie's.

The stunning 1950 work, one of an edition of 25, demolished its £100,000 estimate by 635.7%, trumping the previous $414,073 record, set by Grand vase aux danseurs in December 2010.

The new record holder for a Picasso ceramic edition

Four ceramic works beat the previous world record during the first day of the London auction on June 25.

The results are evidence of a growing adoration for Picasso's ceramic works, which have traditionally been overshadowed by his more famous pieces.

Picasso was inspired to embrace the medium by the Ramie family, owners of the famous Madoura Pottery in the south of France, having seen their work at a ceramics festival in 1946.  

Picasso became a regular visitor to the pottery for the next 25 years and produced a huge body of work there.

"Picasso was a master of all media with which he worked, and ceramics was no exception," commented Alain Ramie, son of the owners of Madoura Pottery, prior to the sale.

"Ceramics were a great passion of Picasso's and they have been a source of a lifetime's passion for me and my parents: now that the pottery is closed it is time for me to sell these works, and give Picasso lovers around the world the opportunity to share in the great joy that they have brought me."

Picasso lovers should also take a look at this superb signed postcard, currently available through Paul Fraser Collectibles.

Day one of the event amassed £5.1m, far exceeding the £2.7m estimate for the entire two-day auction.