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Jean Royère Furniture

French, 1902-1981

World traveler, polyglot and avant-garde visionary Jean Royère (1902–81) is one of the biggest names in French mid-century design. He was fascinated by different materials, such as raffia and zebrawood, and aesthetics from around the world, from Scandinavian modernism to the traditions of the Middle East. Owing to this venturesome spirit, Royère produced an eclectic body of work that truly doesn’t fit a singular style. One light fixture might have organic shapes reminiscent of Art Nouveau, while a table would be crafted with minimalist straw marquetry.

Born in Paris, Royère studied classics at Cambridge University and then worked for an import-export company. In 1931, he switched gears to design, studying cabinetmaking in the workshops of Faubourg Saint-Antoine and furniture making under the tutelage of Pierre Gouffé. He made his debut in interior design in 1934 when he won a design contest for the brasserie in the Hotel Carlton on the Champs-Élysées.

Royère’s most famous piece of furniture was his biomorphic Boule sofa, sometimes playfully called the Ours Polaire, or Polar Bear. Designed for his mother in 1947, the curved sofa with its fuzzy white velvet shocked the French interior design world when it was displayed at the Art et Industrie exhibition, but it proved enduringly popular with customers, such as the Shah of Iran, who purchased several for his daughter. Royère would continue to design furniture and interiors for an elite clientele, including the kings of Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Royère retired in 1972, then moved to the United States in 1980. After he died a year later, his archives were given to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. His works continue to be highly coveted — Kanye West, for instance, once tweeted that the Polar Bear sofa is his favorite piece of furniture. In 2016, Galerie Patrick Seguin in Paris opened a retrospective of his distinctive designs, from the plush 1943 Eléphanteau chair to the 1963 Tour Eiffel table with its elegant metal supports.

Find vintage Jean Royère tables, storage cabinets and other furniture today on 1stDibs.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Creator: Jean Royère
Mid-Century Bar Stool in the style of Jean Royère, Iron and Leather, Italy
By Jean Royère
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century 'Quattro Sgabelli' Bar Stool in the style of Jean Royère, Iron and Leather, Italy, 1950s - Sold Individually
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Royère Furniture

Materials

Iron

Pair of Jean Royère Adjustable Iron Floor Lamp 1940
By Jean Royère
Located in Benington, Herts
A Matched Pair of Jean Royère adjustable Iron standing Floor Lamp France Paris circa 1940’s Both in wonderful original condition by one of the most sought after mid 20th century Fr...
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Royère Furniture

Materials

Iron

Lamp
By Jean Royère
Located in Paris, FR
Table lamp "Cage" with eight braced branches in square section in gold-patinated iron.
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Royère Furniture

Materials

Iron

French Oak Dining Table with Extension Leaves by Jean Royere
By Jean Royère
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare French oak dining table designed by Jean Royere circa 1955 as part of his "Sculpture" series. It featured a dramatically rounded legs of solid oak and a removable top. The design of this series around 1955 as well as "Visiteur du soir" series were likely stemmed from an earlier series "Coin de repos pour L'hiver", presented in artists and decorators' pavilion, international exhibition, Paris, in 1937. The table is 62" wide without leaves and when fully extended it measures 102" in width. It can be used as a bespoken desk as well. Provenance: Originally purchased from Wright Auction Modern Design Sale October 3rd, 2004; Lot 250. Literature: De Beyrie, Catherine & Stephane. Jean Royère. 2001. pp 48-57. Jacques Lacoste...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Jean Royère Furniture

Materials

Brass

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Previously Available Items
Pair of lamps Zig Zag by Jean Royere restored
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Pair of lamps Zig Zag by Jean Royere restored
Pair of lamps Zig Zag by Jean Royere restored
Free Shipping
H 17.72 in Dm 13.78 in
Jean Royère Adjustable Iron Floor Lamp 1940
By Jean Royère
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Jean Royère Serving Trolley Gilded Metal Mirrored Glass, 1950
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Jean Royère Cheminees et Coins de Feu
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Jean Royère, Daybed, circa 1930
By Jean Royère
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Jean Royère, daybed, circa 1930 Wood, linen. Great original condition, the upholstery was redone few years ago. Jean Royère (1902-1981) Born in Paris, Jean Royère made an international reputation as designer of luxury interiors in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America in the jet setting 50s and 60s. Eschewing the mass production mindset of contemporary design, Royère dedicated himself to the creation of lively and spacious rooms for leisure and play, envisioning each of his plush sofas and freeform coffee tables as a singular contribution his total effect. Favoring jewel tones, richly polished wood and curvaceous, vegetal forms, Royère created vibrant spaces, which encourage movement and interaction; appropriate to settings for sophisticated entertaining and recreation. Though declaring himself "against furniture," Royère designed influential pieces, which have gained attention in the succeeding decades. Considering ornamentation ephemeral and subject to the winds of fashion Royère concentrated on shape and volume; making pieces in fabric, metal and wood which carved space or filled the air with their strong forms and lines. His Tour Eiffel lamps...
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Jean Royère, Daybed, circa 1930
Jean Royère, Daybed, circa 1930
H 28 in W 84 in D 36.5 in
Jean Royère Serving Trolley Gilded Metal Mirrored Glass, 1950
By Jean Royère
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare and iconic serving trolley by Jean Royère in gilded metal with mirrored glass made circa 1950. Very good vintage condition with beautiful gilded patina. Having opened a store in Paris in 1943 before the war had ended, Jean Royère was one of the first to promote a new way of life through interior decoration, and his lively approach found an international audience early on in his career. Literature : Jean Royère, décorateur à Paris, exh. cat., Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, 1999, p16 Pierre-Emmanuel Martin-Vivier, Jean Royère, Paris, 2002, p35 Galerie Jacques Lacoste...
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1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Royère Furniture

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1940s Jean Royère Oak Credenza
By Jean Royère
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1940s Jean Royère Oak Credenza
1940s Jean Royère Oak Credenza
H 37.5 in W 70.75 in D 18.25 in
Ski Floor Lamp by Jean Royère
By Jean Royère
Located in Paris, FR
Jean Royère Ski lamp, circa 1950 Painted steel, paper shade Measures: 64 in. (163 cm) high.     Provenance : Design Sale Sotheby's NY Private collect...
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Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Jean Royère Furniture

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Ski Floor Lamp by Jean Royère
Ski Floor Lamp by Jean Royère
H 64 in W 15 in D 25 in
Jean Royere "Serpentin" Three-Light Wrought Iron Wall Lamp, 1940's, France
By Jean Royère
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Very rare wrought iron three-light wall lamp by Jean Royere, 1940s. All original with the exception of the shades, that unfortunately are stained, easily replaceable. Rewiring recomm...
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Pair of Andirons by Jean Royere, circa 1950, France
By Jean Royère
Located in Girona, Spain
Pair of andirons by Jean Royere obelisk shape in iron and brass-gilt ball very elegant and prominent Royere design, circa 1950, France very good vintage condition.
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Materials

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Jean Royère furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Jean Royère furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Jean Royère furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Jean Touret, Marc Held, and Philippe Cheverny. Prices for Jean Royère furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $445 and can go as high as $33,203, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,378.

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