Upholstery
As Jean Royère utilised traditional upholstery methods to construct his designs, Maison Royère upholstery pieces employ passed down savoir-faire to construct in natural materials, with the intention to create pieces of refined comfort, combining ergonomics and longevity.
The upholstered pieces are constructed around a solid frame of beech wood, historically used for its strong, straight and dense grain, which resists shock and remains stable over time. The hidden frame forms the essential base off which the complicated and curvaceous designs are constructed. Some designs, such as the Polar Bear Sofa and Armchair, have a boat-like structure of ribbed vertical and horizontal beams that creates a framework. For these pieces, layers of natural materials are assembled together to form the smooth curves and sculptural lines of the finished piece. Each piece is connected by wooden joints, without the use of metal hardware, which results in a carcass that will strengthen over time.
All upholstered pieces are offered in Maison Royère Alpaca fabrics, which have been specially designed and woven, based on original fabrics specified by Royère. Made in the town of Amiens in northern France, known for centuries as a centre for velvet production. Maison Royère works with one of the last remaining ateliers, who weave the cloth on antique looms.
Wood
The wooden pieces designed by Jean Royère both reveal and celebrate the structure of each object. Maison Royère closely follow the designs to create pieces that reflect the Royères freedom in both materials and graphic forms.
The majority of wooden pieces created by Jean Royère were offered in oak, with various stains and finishes whilst a selection of pieces were made in sycamore or rosewood.
Maison Royère has worked to match the original stains and finishes, resulting in an offer of various options. First is a white oil, which results in a matt, waxy finish with subtly filled pores. Light, honey and dark stains are finished with a traditional shellac varnish, for a deep worth and subtle gloss. This process has been used since the 17th century in cabinet making, and we are proud to continue the tradition.
Both dining and coffee tables are constructed from solid wood, each top made of two layers of solid wood laminated together at different angles, protecting the piece from major changes caused by humidity and heat, thus ensuring durability and longevity.
The wooden chairs offered in oak and sycamore are visually light and simple, yet complex in their construction. With their exposed wooden frames of varying thicknesses and lack of right angles, the pieces rely on a skilled hand and fine wood-working savoir-faire to deliver a seamless result.
As the piece settles into its new surroundings and reacts to light, please note that the colour of the piece will develop and change during the first months of use. This is a normal reaction for the natural varnish.
Metal
The metal furniture pieces and lighting, ubiquitous throughout the creations of Jean Royère, are distinguished by their visually light structure, reducing the idea to a thin, delicate line, like that on a page come to life. Mainly crafted from steel tube, in strong, solid colours, the metal pieces often employ strong motifs such a grid, waves or curves to create graphic compositions.
Maison Royère carries on this heritage by producing metal pieces with colours, based on the original pieces in red, coral, green, dark green, burgundy black and gold. The metal is painted with epoxy to obtain a strong, solid finish. The surface is then treated and patinated by hand to achieve a soft finish with a light texture with sections of both matt and shine. The gold pieces are finished using traditional water gilding techniques, offered in light, medium or heavy patina.
Our outdoor range is constructed from solid tube marine-grade stainless steel, hand finished with an outdoor patina. The lighting pieces, often inspired by flora, have the lights as branches or extensions of the stem itself, as if growing from the stem. A fluted edge softens the transition between the stem and the bulb-holder, which is fitted with E14 bulb holders, which, fitted with the appropriate bulb can be used on any dimming system. All Maison Royère pieces are produced to adhere to European norms, but upon demand, the electrical parts can be exchanged for appropriate local equivalents. Each metal lighting fixture features a handmade Japanese paper shade and a traditional paper trim in a colour to match the frame. For the pieces in gold, a trim in hand-gilded and patinated paper is used.
Straw
Straw marquetry was first used by Jean Royère in the late 1950s. The decorator adopted the technique from the great tradition of French woodworking, and mastered the codes through his unique vision. He specifically chose this metier to dress the surfaces of his creations in starry decorations or graphic chevrons.
Maison Royère currently presents the Flaque Étoile coffee table, and Etoile dining table, both of which utilise straw marquetry across their surfaces.
These pieces employ the refined skill and savoir faire of Atelier Lison de Caunes to execute this unique metier.
An historic technique imported from China, straw marquetry flourished in Europe in the 17th century, particularly in France. Used on small objects in the arts décoratifs of the 18th century, it epitomised French savoir-faire before falling into oblivion. Its use regained popularity in the 1920s, but was soon forgotten again.
Cultivated in France, this natural material goes through various steps in its processing, including drying, dying, splitting and gluing. Noted for its reflective quality, transforming in different lighting conditions, the strips of straw capture light differently depending on one's relative position. The embedded patterns in the surface come to life, creating a sense of kinetic movement, animating the piece with a slightly holographic quality. The star pattern, deployed in a constellation across the surface of the pieces, was applied to numerous historic models, from dining tables to sideboards, small tables, armoires and beds.
Each piece is finished with a plain, linear straw background available in five colours: Natural, Medium, Dark, Black and Green. The stars of the Etoile are applied in either Natural or Colour. The Natural option offers the motif in tonal variations of the base, whilst the Colour version uses brighter tones such as red, orange and green for greater contrast.