One of Royere’s earliest designs, the Rustique chair, crafted from solid oak is an honest, pared back design that revels in details of construction rather than ornament, revealing its method of assembly, its visible structure becoming the visual ornamentation. Composed of simple, interlocking parts, the chair is made up of a curved and pierced back, a grooved seat and four turned legs.

The shield-shaped back, made from solid planks of oak has a gentle curve that wraps and supports the sitter. A hole pierces the back near the top, used as a handle or grip to easily move the chair. The back has two prongs extending from the main body which are in turn inserted into corresponding holes in the seat, held in place with wooden pins, which provide a strong and sturdy fixation.

The solid wood seat is composed of a number of planks that are seamlessly joined to form the uniform surface. The seat has a similar shape to the back, with rounded corners at the back which widen towards the front. The flat surface has a round groove carved into the surface, creating a comfortable seat.

Underneath the seat, the legs are connected to prominent rails that run perpendicular to the wood grain. They are used to provide extra strength to the seat as well as a fixation point for the legs. Each leg is turned by hand, slightly bulging before narrowing toward the bottom, creating a sense of balance and harmony to the over proportion.

The piece is finished in a traditional natural varnish, which is built of up multiple layers. Each layer is left to cure over a period of days and then lightly sanded before the next is applied This laborious process allows for a depth of colour and a rich texture to develop.

The Rustique chair, produced early in Royere’s career was first shown at in an exhibition named Maison Rurale as part of the l’Exposition Internationale de Paris, 1937.

Jean Royère began his design career working various roles in the furniture ateliers of faubourg Saint-Antoine. This early training led to him designing modern furniture for Maison Gouffé, where he worked from 1934 until 1942. The Rustique chairs were designed and exhibited during this tenure and as such were often marked with the Gouffé stamp.

The piece, constructed from solid oak follows utilises a number of design details that would be further explored by Royere in later works. The shield-shaped back for example is re-iterated in his series of Ecusson seats, which forms the upholstered backs on dining chairs, armchairs and sofas, as well as shaping the sides of a coffee table and the backing panel of wall lamps in woven cane. Royere also designed a stool in the same style, with similar legs and details, without a back and featuring a curved seat.

The Rustique chair was particularly special to Royere, as one of the few pieces of his own design that he would live with later in life. The chairs furnished his country home La Dormerie in Forêt de Marly, seen in photographs from 1960.

• Produced from Jean Royère’s original drawings

• Delivered with a certificate of authenticity

• Traditional Manufacture

• Structure in tubular and solid metal with a painted, hand-patinated and varnished finish.

Available in three historic shades; Light, Medium and Dark. The piece can also be finished in White Oil, for a limed, almost raw appearance.

L44,5 x W53 x H80 cm

L17,5 x W20,5 x H31,5 in