Jean Gregorieff for Roche Bobois

JEAN GREGORIEFF (France, 1931) for Roche Bobois.
Coffee table, 1970s.
Steel and ceramic.
Measurements: 42.5 x 101 x 41.5 cm.
This coffee table, designed by Jean Gregorieff in the 1970s, perfectly captures the creative spirit of the era: a synthesis of art, design, and functionality. The rectangular tabletop consists of tiles arranged in rows, through which Gregorieff showcases his distinctive visual language.
Jean Gregorieff stands as a key figure in 20th-century French art and design. He began his career in 1947 in the field of lithography, training in drawing, painting, and sculpture at night while working in a printing workshop. In 1959, he moved to Vallauris, the ceramics hub of the French Riviera that attracted artists such as Picasso, where he learned the techniques of the potter’s wheel and pottery. During the 1960s and 1970s, his creative output diversified, encompassing murals, furniture, pool decorations, and architectural collaborations. However, his name is particularly associated with the coffee tables he designed in collaboration with the prestigious firm Roche Bobois. Now considered true collector’s items, these tables marked a turning point by blending craftsmanship with modern design. They are characterized by their ceramic tabletops, composed of hand-painted, glazed tiles, combined with chrome-plated steel or wooden frames.