AUCTIONEERS are aiming to complete a hat-trick of sales of works by the artist Picasso.

Duke’s of Dorchester will be taking bids for a ceramic charger – a plate with the head of a goat on it – on June 18.

It is the third work by the famous Spanish artist to go under the hammer at the auction house. Last year a watercolour titled ‘Etreinte’ went for just over £80,000 and in April a print called ‘Tete de Faune’ sold for £7,600.

Auctioneer Matthew Denney, who has organised the sale, said: “The charger is a lovely piece, and being 20 inches wide is amongst the most decorative of Picasso’s ceramics.

“The estimate for the item is £3,000 to £5,000 which represents great value when compared with other types of work by the artist, and as a work of art it is just as engaging and pleasing as many of the artist’s paintings.

“Modern art has proved to be ever more popular at auction over recent years, and we are delighted to be offering our third work by Picasso in such a short period of time.”

A collector from West Dorset owned the piece for many years but has just decided to put it up for auction.

The ceramic charger bears a goat within a decorated border.

The plate is mounted in a glazed frame so that it can be hung on the wall.

Mr Denney said that Picasso’s ceramics are very popular with collectors and are often cheaper than his paintings.

The plate goes under the hammer in Duke’s Auction of Art and Design Post 1850 on June 18.

Many of the 600 lots up for auction will be on view at Duke’s fine arts saleroom in Weymouth Avenue from June 13 onward.