Roger Capron

French ceramicist and designer (1922–2006)

Born in Vincennes in 1922 and trained at the École des arts appliqués in Paris, Roger Capron settled in Vallauris in 1946. There, he founded the Callis workshop alongside Robert Picault and Jean Derval, just as the small town in the South of France was becoming, around Picasso, one of the epicenters of the revival of French ceramics. His studio rapidly expanded, producing objects, furniture, and architectural installations. Capron achieved renown through his glazed ceramic tiles, which he paired with wood or metal to create coffee tables, consoles, and wall panels. Among his most distinctive motifs is the “Herbier”: real leaves and plants pressed into the clay prior to firing, leaving their delicate imprint beneath the glaze. Today, coffee tables featuring the Herbier motif are among his most sought-after creations. Roger Capron passed away in Vallauris in 2006.