Roger Capron

The French ceramist Roger Capron was born in Vincennes in 1922, and was initially interested in drawing, studying at the École des Arts Appliqués on rue Dupetit-Thouars in Paris from 1938 to 1943, before teaching drawing from 1945. The discovery of ceramics led him to change his medium: in February 1946, he moved to Vallauris, where he created a ceramics workshop, Callis. He joined forces with Robert Picault and then Jean Derval in 1948, participating in the renaissance of ceramics in Vallauris, where he put into practice the motto of his master, René Gabriel, “to make the beautiful within everyone's reach”. In 1952, Capron bought a disused pottery in Vallauris and, with seven workers, produced objects for gift shops as well as decorative panels. 1955, Capron married Jacqueline Hubin, known as “Jacotte”, who became his collaborator. His creations were recognised and rewarded: gold medal at the Xth Triennale in Milan in 1954, silver medal at the international exhibition in Cannes in 1955, gold medal in Brussels in 1959.1962 saw the beginning of a collaboration between Capron and Jean-Michel Carré. The architect Philippe Sicardon, Carré's brother-in-law, entrusted Capron with the creation of ceramic decorations for the Byblos hotel in Saint-Tropez (inaugurated in 1967).1968 saw a new collaboration between Capron and Derval.Capron received the international grand prize for ceramics in 1970.In 1980, his factory employed 120 people. But following the economic crisis, Roger Capron had to file for bankruptcy in 1982: he was forced to sell his models, patents, manufacturing processes as well as his name (which is his brand).his company was bought by the Carré company in Paris. In 1984, a new collaboration between Capron and Marazzi-Sassuolo began, which had to be stopped because of the exclusive rights obtained by Ets Carré.Around 1990, Roger Capron began a completely new work with unique pieces, close to sculpture. With the help of his wife, Jacotte, and Jean-Paul Bonnet, his long-time collaborator, he opened a small workshop in Vallauris, and created fired pieces (using the smoked clay technique) for galleries all over the world.in the 2000s, Capron devoted himself to sculpture in the round, still in collaboration with his wife and Jean-Paul Bonnet.