Robj elephant sculpture Paris Art Deco

Robj Ceramic Elephant sculpture made in Paris and part of the collection of many figurines, jars that were stylized during this period.

Jean Born began his work in 1908 under the name he created, ROBJ. An industrial designer through the ‘teens, after WWI he began to add artistic and decorative items in porcelain. He died in a car accident in 1922 at the very beginning of the Art Deco Period and a shareholder in his firm, Lucien WIllmetz took over the management. It is WIllmetz who really influenced and promoted the ROBJ style.

With the support of sculptors, model makers and technicians he created a range of “art trinkets in ceramics” which were produced through 1931. The characteristics of ROBJ pieces are very much in keeping with the styles of the times and they achieved immediate success. Perhaps the most popular items of their line were the liquor decanters introduced in 1928. Containers for tobacco, incense and bonbons were added to their lines of sculptural figurines. ROBJ pieces are whimsical but also elegant, modern and original.