Image: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
View source →Glass of Absinthe
Pablo Picasso, 1914
Technical Details
Medium
Painted bronze with absinthe spoon
Dimensions
21.6 × 16.4 × 8.5 cm
Style
Cubism / Sculpture
Decade
1910s
About This Work
This extraordinary sculpture exists in six unique bronze casts, each painted differently by Picasso himself. The work incorporates a real absinthe spoon resting on top of the bronze glass, creating a radical collision between the real object and its artistic representation. The sugar cube on the spoon is rendered in bronze, while the spoon itself is genuine — a deliberate philosophical puzzle about the nature of reality and illusion.
The Glass of Absinthe is one of the earliest examples of assemblage sculpture and a direct precursor to Dada and Surrealism. By inserting a real object into a sculpted work, Picasso challenged the boundaries between art and life in a way that would resonate throughout the 20th century.
Current Location
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA
Public Collection — Open to visitors
Visit museum website →Valuation & Provenance
2026 Estimated Value
$15–25 million (est.)
* Estimates are based on comparable auction results and market analysis. Not a formal appraisal.
Last Known Sale
$11.8 million
2011
Christie's New York
Keywords
Continue Exploring
Related Artworks
Chosen for shared style, era, medium, subject, or date.
Guitar (Sheet Metal Sculpture)
1914 · same style · same era
Head of a Woman (Fernande)
1909 · same style · similar medium
Guitar (Sheet Metal and Wire)
1914 · same era · similar medium
Guitar, Sheet Music and Glass
1912 · same era · shared subject
Fruit Dish, Bottle and Violin
1914 · same era · shared subject
Still Life
1914 · same era · shared subject
Shop Related Products
If you love this synthetic cubism masterpiece, explore these curated books and resources on Amazon.
The Cubist Epoch by Douglas Cooper
In-depth analysis of Picasso's Cubist period and innovations
Cubism Series Posters
Collection of Cubist compositions showcasing geometric innovation
The Mystery of Picasso (Henri-Georges Clouzot)
Classic documentary showing Picasso painting in real-time
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Each product link is unique to help us track which recommendations resonate most with our visitors.