Roger Capron, zoomorphic table lamp

Roger CAPRON (1922-2006), Zoomorphic table lamp, circa 1955. Polychrome glazed ceramic and original electrical components. Sculptural-shaped glazed ceramic table lamp, consisting of an ovoid body resting on three conical feet and extended by a cylindrical rod forming the lamp's stem. The belly is decorated on one side with a stylised antelope rendered in a palette of yellow, brown, black, and turquoise against a subtly blue-tinged white background. The animal is depicted in profile, with long curved horns and a deliberately simplified silhouette. The whole piece is finished with a satin white glaze showing subtle firing variations. The old electrical system is preserved, with a brown Bakelite socket and original switch on the cord. The lampshade is also original. This lamp belongs to the most free and inventive period of Roger CAPRON, when the artist developed a decorative vocabulary in Vallauris directly inspired by primitive arts, imaginary bestiaries, and modern painting. During the 1950s, he actively participated in the renewal of French ceramics by rejecting the traditional separation between utilitarian objects and artistic creation. His lighting fixtures represent one of the most sought-after aspects of his work, precisely because they combine sculpture, painted decoration, and domestic function in a single piece. The motif of the antelope, treated with a few swift strokes and remarkable economy of means, reflects the influence of African art, cave paintings, and certain graphic explorations of the post-war period. Bibliography: Pierre Staudenmeyer, Les Céramistes de Vallauris, Paris, Éditions du Regard, 1993; Pierre Staudenmeyer, Roger Capron, Céramiste, Paris, Éditions de l'Amateur, 2003; Alain Capron, Roger Capron, le génie des formes, Paris, Norma Éditions, 2020.