JEAN ROYÈRE Lot n° 1

NO LIVE AUCTION. FOR ANY PARTICIPATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE HOTEL DES VENTES BORDEAUX STE-CROIX JEAN ROYÈRE (1902-1981) Méridienne, declination of the sofa model Boule commonly known as Ours Polaire, specially designed (execution tracing n° 6.364 dated and nominative; kept at the MAD) for Mr. F. Malgat in November 1956, very probably a unique piece, the only one known to date. Fully (re)upholstered meridienne; curvilinear backrest, Haricot-style seat front. Resting on four original cylindrical cherrywood legs. Made in late 1956, early 1957. Upholstery not original; seat reupholstered first in the late 1970s, then in 2020; original upholstery in yellow Teddy Bear velvet. Each leg, originally fixed by two dowels (visible after dismantling), bears on its inside face (visible after dismantling) the original handwritten markings "3037" in blue wood pencil, three bear the original handwritten markings "B de C" in blue wood pencil, one bears the original handwritten markings of the recipient "Cque MALGAT" (Cque for Calque) in blue wood pencil; each bears an original numbering in Roman numerals "I, II, IIII, IV" made with a wood chisel, and its location marked with a ballpoint pen when the seat was last refurbished. Height: 80 cm - Length: 205 cm - Depth: 110 cm Provenance : - M. F. Malgat (1922-2023). Work specially designed by Jean Royère in November 1956 for Mr. F. Malgat to furnish the library desk in his apartment in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. - This work has remained in the family of its predecessor. Important: A copy of the execution tracing by name (M. Malgat on two occasions) of our méridienne numbered 6.364, dated November 1956, crossed out, will be given to the purchaser. We would like to thank La Succession © Jean Royère Estate for making this document available to us. Archives : - The execution tracing by name (M. Malgat twice) of our méridienne numbered 6.364, dated November 1956, fully dimensioned, is kept in the Fonds Jean Royère of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris under inventory number RI 2019.2.13.328. The Succession © Jean Royère Estate, which holds a copy of this tracing, has asked us not to publish or communicate this document held at the MAD. Nevertheless, La Succession © Jean Royère Estate can provide, on request, details of a certain number of elements of this tracing that the requester may find useful to know. - A nominative environment drawing (Malgat) numbered 10.310, showing the future méridienne in situation, is kept in the Fonds Jean Royère of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris under inventory number RI 2018.2.14.84. Bibliography and related works - Mobilier et Décoration - N° 7, September-October 1958. A project for a lounge area by Jean Royère, featuring a meridienne close to the Boule (Polar Bear) type, reproduced in color on the cover and in black & white on page 1. - Collectif - Jean Royère : décorateur à Paris - Catalogue of the eponymous exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, éditions Norma & UCAD, Paris, 1999. A project for a corner lounge by Jean Royère, featuring a meridienne close to the Boule (Polar Bear) type, reproduced in color on page 125. - Pierre-Emmanuel Martin-Vivier - Jean Royère - Norma éditions, Paris, 2002. A project for a corner lounge by Jean Royère, featuring a meridian close to the Boule (Polar Bear) type, reproduced in color on page 15. - Jacques Lacoste, Axel de Heeckeren, Raf Simons, Marie-Hélène Brian, Olivier Gabet - Jean Royère - Ligne Forme Couleurs - Éditions Galerie Jacques Lacoste, Paris, 2022. A project for a lounge area by Jean Royère, featuring a meridian close to the Boule (Polar Bear) type, reproduced in color on page 20. VISIBLE FROM MAY 22 TO 30 INCLUSIVE AT CABINET D'EXPERTISE EMMANUEL EYRAUD - 27, rue Saint-Dominique - 75007 Paris - Tel. +33.(0)1.45.54.97.51 An unpublished work by Jean ROYÈRE (1902-1981) When it comes to furniture, if there's one piece emblematic of and in the work of Jean Royère, it's the Boule sofa, commonly known as the Polar Bear; its counterpart in lighting is the Liane floor and wall version, an equally iconic work by the artist. These two creations alone reveal the extent of the decorator's talent, and reveal a large part of his creative and stylistic vocabulary: comfort, vitality, poetry and inventiveness all come together in furniture objects designed for everyday living spaces. Designed in 1946 by the artist for his mother's Parisian apartment, the Polar Bear sofa was offered and integrated into numerous interior designs until Jean Royère ceased his activity in 1972.