It has often been said that the work of the French decorator and furniture designer, Jean Royère, defies classification. Strattling the divide between modernism and traditionalism, Royère concerned himself with form, materials, and quality. Although he lacked conventional training in the field, his creations are imbued with timeless beauty and spirited personality. A true maverick, Royère ignored his family's advice to pursue a career in banking and instead apprenticed with the Parisian furniture maker, Pierre Gouffe. During his two year affiliation with the firm (1934-1936) he served as the artistic director for their contemporary line and in 1934 achieved public recognition for his striking decor for the bar at the Carlton Hotel on the Champs-Élysées. After showing his work at the prestigious Salon de la Societe des Artistes-Decorateurs, Royère opened his own design office in 1942. His custom-made creations stand out for their originality in style, shapely curves, ambitious proportions, undulating ironwork and sophisticated elegance. Royère's popularity continued to grow during the post-war years and by the 1950s he was designing not only apartment residences, hotels, restaurants and offices, but Senate buildings and palaces as well. His commissions stretched from France to Brazil, from Iran to Jordan and from Lebanon to the United States. Some of his most distinguished clients included King Farouk of Egypt, King Hussein of Jordan and the Shah of Iran.

AN UPHOLSTERED 'POLAR BEAR' SOFA

JEAN ROYERE, CIRCA 1951

Details

AN UPHOLSTERED 'POLAR BEAR' SOFA
Jean Royere, Circa 1951
The overstuffed demi-lune shaped frame upholstered in rust fabric, raised on four circular block feet
31in. (78.7cm.) high, approximately 93½in. (237.5cm.) wide

Lot Essay

Originally designed in 1946 and exhibited in "La residence Francaise" organized by Art et Industrie magazine in 1947, this suite was originally known as boule or haricot. However, it soon attained the nickname ours (bear) for obvious reasons, its plush 'coat' and imposing proportions inviting comparisons with a large animal paw.
cf. Jean Royère, Jansen Exhibition Catalogue, 1985, pl. 29; Jean Royère décorateur à Paris, 1999, Musée des Arts Décoratifs exhibition catalogue, pp. 9,10, 12, 25, 41, 60, 62, 63, 70-72, 76, 114, 122, 161, 165 for illustrations and sketches of the model

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