Jean Royère

Galerie de Beyrie, Paris

Acquired from the above by the present owner, circa 1990s

Galerie Jacques Lacoste, ed., Jean Royère, Paris, 1999, p. 68

Catherine and Stéphane de Beyrie, ed., Jean Royère, New York, 2000, pp. 48-51

Pierre-Emmanuel Martin-Vivier, Jean Royère, Paris, 2002, pp. 42, 261

Galerie Jacques Lacoste and Galerie Patrick Seguin, ed., Jean Royère, vol. 1, Paris, 2012, pp. 52-55, 114, 274-275

Galerie Jacques Lacoste and Galerie Patrick Seguin, ed., Jean Royère, vol. 2, Paris, 2012, pp. 19, 49, 270-273 (for a drawing)

Jean Royère’s “Ours Polaire” and “Sculpture” designs rank among the most coveted creations in the canon of 20th-century design. Embodying the elegance, lyricism, and playful sophistication for which Royère is renowned, these forms exemplify his singular ability to merge comfort and luxury with sculptural artistry. Together, they reflect the full breadth of Royère’s visionary approach—at once whimsical and refined, boldly sculptural yet eminently functional and livable.

Royère began his career in design in his late twenties, inspired and encouraged by Louis Metman, curator of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. From the outset, he demonstrated a natural talent for creating furnishings that felt both fresh and timeless, drawing influence from the Modernist movement while infusing his work with a distinctive sense of play. “The secret of good decoration lies in its absence, or rather in its extreme simplicity,” he once proclaimed, a philosophy that aligned him with contemporaries such as Charlotte Perriand and Le Corbusier. Yet where others pursued strict rationalism, Royère introduced softness, sensuality, and joy, frequently using sumptuous materials and biomorphic silhouettes to elevate simplicity into something extraordinary.

Few works embody this philosophy more fully than the “Ours Polaire” suite. Designed circa 1950, the “Ours Polaire” sofa and armchair—translated as “polar bear”—are iconic for their enveloping, rounded forms and irresistibly plush upholstery. With their deep seats and cloud-like contours, these pieces create an atmosphere of comfort and ease while making an undeniably bold sculptural statement. The name, while whimsical, accurately conveys the soft, protective nature of the design. Royère sought to create interiors that were as relaxing as they were refined, and the “Ours Polaire” suite perfectly captures this vision.

Designed a few years later, the “Sculpture” armchair reveals Royère’s mastery of form in its most pure expression. Introduced circa 1955 and exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs in 1959, the “Sculpture” series marked a new direction in Royère’s oeuvre. Composed of two interlocking planes—a seat and gently reclining backrest supported by a sculptural wooden structure—the armchair achieves both visual lightness and grounded presence. Its sophisticated form and thoughtful proportions impart the design with a striking sculptural presence from every vantage, and its curvaceous lines and inviting form are quintessentially Royère.  

Together, the “Ours Polaire” and “Sculpture” seating pieces showcase Royère’s dual genius: the ability to create furniture that is at once playful and poised, functional and fantastical. These timeless designs continue to captivate audiences with their lyricism, sophistication and embodiment of modern elegance.