A Previously Unseen Version of Jean Royère’s Polar Bear

Published on 26 May 2023, by Caroline Legrand

Auction on 06 June 2023 - 18:00 (CEST) - 12-14, rue Peyronnet - 33800 Bordeaux

Specially commissioned by a Parisian entrepreneur, this fainting couch offers Jean Royère’s signature creation a unique, appealing shape.

Jean Royère (1902-1981), fainting couch, version of the Polar Bear sofa, completely... A Previously Unseen Version of Jean Royère’s Polar Bear

Jean Royère (1902-1981), fainting couch, version of the Polar Bear sofa, completely reupholstered, four cylindrical cherrywood legs, late 1956-early 1957, 82 x 205 x 90 cm/32.28 x 80.70 x 35.43 cm.
Estimate: €400,000/600,000

Recognizable at first glance, Jean Royère ’s "Boule" (Ball) sofa, later renamed the "Ours Polaire" (Polar Bear), is an icon of 1950s French design. The version presented here is a variation that may make a difference at auction: Its asymmetrical form adopts the shape of a fainting couch. "Royère did more than just cut off one of its armrests,” says the expert, Mr. Eyraud. “He also redesigned the shape of the seat, in…

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