Roger Capron
France — b. 1922 — d. 2006
Biography
Initially interested in drawing, Roger Capron (1922-2006) studied at the École des Arts Appliqués in Paris. The discovery of ceramics encouraged him to change medium: in 1946, he settled in Vallauris, where he created the ceramic workshop “Callis”, thus applying the motto of his master René Gabriel: “to make the beautiful within the reach of all”. The workshop thus fully contributes to the renaissance of ceramics in Vallauris with other major artists such as Picasso. In 1952, he founded the “Atelier Capron”, a small factory that employed about fifty workers...
Initially interested in drawing, Roger Capron (1922-2006) studied at the École des Arts Appliqués in Paris. The discovery of ceramics encouraged him to change medium: in 1946, he settled in Vallauris, where he created the ceramic workshop “Callis”, thus applying the motto of his master René Gabriel: “to make the beautiful within the reach of all”. The workshop thus fully contributes to the renaissance of ceramics in Vallauris with other major artists such as Picasso. In 1952, he founded the “Atelier Capron”, a small factory that employed about fifty workers.
His creations often take up the tiles of earthenware or enamelled lava, traditionally used for decorative panels. This recognizable detour of the use of ceramics for furniture and objects became the designer’s signature.
Capron was the first to put his ceramic expertise at the service of a semi-industrial production. The workshop turned into a small factory and acquired an international reputation.
Some of Roger Capron’s works are exhibited at the Musée National de la Céramique in Sèvres and the Musée Magnelli in Vallauris.