French Ceramic 'Shogun' Coffee Table by Roger Capron, 1960s

A French ceramic Shogun coffee table by Roger Capron from the 1960s.

Grounded by four solid cylindrical legs in stained wood, the table carries a quiet architectural weight. Its rounded rectangular frame softens the geometry, while the ceramic tiled surface introduces rhythm through an abstract composition of earthy ochres, warm terracottas, deep charcoal, and muted olive tones. Each hand-glazed tile bears subtle variations in color and texture, celebrating the irregularities that define Capron’s work.

Created during a period when Roger Capron redefined French ceramics, the Shogun series reflects his belief that functional objects could also be works of art. Bearing Capron’s signature—marked R. Capron—the tiled surface is both durable and expressive, bringing together craftsmanship, graphic composition, and natural materials in equal measure.

Literature: Roger Capron Céramiste by Pierre Staudenmeyer, Éditions Norma, Paris, 2003, p. 106.

Roger Capron (1922–2006) redefined ceramics in the postwar era, breathing new vitality into an ancient craft. After studying in Paris, he settled in Vallauris in 1946, co-founding l’Atelier Callis and working alongside contemporaries like Picasso and Jean Derval. Capron absorbed the region’s pottery traditions and translated them into modern forms—tiles, vessels, and eventually furniture that married utility with artistry.

By the 1960s, his tables were no longer mere surfaces but compositions—landscapes of glazed stoneware that carried the warmth of Provence into the modern home. They spoke to optimism: durable, joyful, meaningful. This piece, with its blooming motif, stands as both functional furniture and ceramic art, a lasting testament to Vallauris’ legacy and Capron’s singular vision.