Galerie Patrick Seguin Showcases the Fanciful Designs of Frenchmen Jean Royère

With exhibitions on Le Corbusier and Jean Prouvé, Galerie Patrick Seguin in Paris has made a name for itself by championing the stalwarts of 20th-century French design. In the second exhibition at its new London outpost, Patrick Seguin exhibits the forward-thinking designs of the somewhat lesser-known, though no less important, Jean Royère.

Royère’s (1902–1984) work has often been seen as a softer counterpart to that of his more austere contemporaries. Initially a banker, he decided as a 29-year-old to instead embark on the path toward becoming a furniture designer. Such a sudden change is characteristic of a designer later known for his independence and avoidance of strict categorizations. Over the next few decades, Royère built a considerable profile that earned him acclaim and many high-profile fans (including the Shah of Iran). Though many of his designs are now more than half-century old, they still feel fresh, largely due to their unpretentiousness. 

Royère’s best work merges slick design with a dab of humor. For instance, the sweeping curves of his Éléphanteau armchair (1947) give it a distinctive presence. Any grace, however, is balanced out by bits of oddness: The chair is almost comically oversized, and its rounded, bulbous bottom nearly touches the floor. To top it all off, the chair has been upholstered in a pastel grey-blue fabric, which, befitting the chair’s title, brings to mind a cartoon elephant. 

Similar attention to detail can be found throughout Royère’s furniture. His Pair of Croisillon chairs (1950) places small, pearl-like orbs on top of legs that have been painted in a rich, cobalt blue finish.