Roger Capron

ROGER CAPRON (Vincennes, 1922 – Cannes, 2006).
Coffee table, “Herbier” series, ca. 1970.
Oak wood and glazed ceramic.
Signed “R. Capron” on one of the ceramic tiles.
Shows signs of wear.
Measurements: 32 x 106 x 55 cm.

The incorporation of plant impressions taken directly from leaves and plants is one of Roger Capron’s most recognizable innovations from the late 1960s. His archive documents the emergence in 1968 of the “grès des garrigues,” created by embedding foliage in the clay, and the following year of the “Herbier de Provence” tiles, the context to which this type of table belongs.

In this piece, the strict grid pattern of the tabletop serves as a counterpoint to the organic variety of leaves, stems, and small branches, spaced out across a light-colored background. The imprints preserve veins and contours with remarkable precision, translating elements of nature into a sober and easily recognizable decorative vocabulary. The stretcher frame, with its straight lines and low proportions, keeps the surface front and center and places the piece squarely within the realm of postwar French design.

A key figure in the ceramic revival of Vallauris, Capron settled there in 1946 and participated, alongside Robert Picault and Jean Derval, in the rebirth of its workshops. Beginning in 1955, he incorporated the production of tiles and tables into his work, seeking to integrate ceramics, architecture, and furniture. In 1970, he received the Grand Prix International de la Céramique, and in 2003, the Musée national de Céramique de Sèvres dedicated the retrospective *Les Capron* to him; the institution also holds works by him in its collections.