Ceramic Coffee Table by Roger Capron, France, 1970

Rectangular coffee table with a steel frame and a top made of "Herbier" stoneware tiles with plants. Each tile is a unique piece. The dovetail joint in the structure is called "Mortaise."

Signed R. Capron
Vallauris, France
Circa 1970

Roger Capron settled in Vallauris, on the French Riviera, in 1946, where he set up a ceramics workshop with Robert Picault, later joined by Jean Derval. During this time, he met Picasso, which undoubtedly influenced his artistic career. He later opened his own workshop, Atelier Capron, where he created decorative objects. In the mid-1950s, he added the production of tiles for architectural purposes (such as decorative panels) and for coffee and dining tables. The company participated in numerous trade fairs and received many orders; by the mid-1960s, it already had 50 employees.

In 1968, he introduced "Grès des garrigues," featuring real leaves embedded in the clay and leaving their natural imprint as they disintegrate during the firing process. In 1969, he debuted in the production of high-fired stoneware (high-temperature stoneware) and introduced "Herbier" tiles, handcrafted using the same method.

Roger Capron received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Gold Medal at the 10th Milan Triennale in 1954, the Silver Medal at the Cannes International Exhibition in 1955, and the Gold Medal at the Brussels International Exhibition of Architectural Ceramics in 1959.