Bague de forme ovale, portrait de Dora Maar (c. 1936-39) by Pablo Picasso. All images courtesy of Sotheby's

Want to buy Picasso’s consolation ring for Dora Maar?

When Picasso’s lover threw a ruby ring into the Seine he made her a new one - it's at auction at Sotheby's tomorrow

Dear male members of the species: as apology-gifts go you'll have to go a long way to match this ring made by Pablo Picasso for his lover and muse Dora Maar.

Picasso created the work after a row during which Dora threw a ruby ring she'd persuaded Picasso to trade a painting for into the River Seine - an act she later regretted when a search of the riverbed failed to recover it.

 

Bague de forme ovale, portrait de Dora Maar (c. 1936-39) by Pablo Picasso.
Bague de forme ovale, portrait de Dora Maar (c. 1936-39) by Pablo Picasso.

 

The replacement ring - an emblem of Picasso and Maar's intense and turbulent relationship - features a portrait of Maar drawn in ink and coloured pencil on paper encased in a metal frame. It was incredibly dear to her; she kept it until her death in 1997.

Tomorrow Wednesday (June 21), Sotheby's London will offer it up for auction, with an estimate of £300,000–500,000 - enough to stop anyone from tossing it. For more on Picasso get this book; and buy your kids this book.