Where animal sculpture meets contemporary jewelry.
The renowned Maison Tournaire, celebrated for its creative daring and exceptional craftsmanship, joins forces with Artémus Editions to pay tribute to one of the icons of French sculpture: François Pompon’s Polar Bear.
From this encounter is born The Gear Bear, a singular artwork blending purity of form with the poetry of mechanism.
The Spirit of Pompon
Created in the early 20th century, Pompon’s Polar Bear stands as a masterpiece of modern sculpture.
Through his refined and stylized approach, François Pompon — once a collaborator of Auguste Rodin — sought to capture the animal’s inner life: its quiet strength, movement, and serenity.
His minimalist vision transformed raw material into a timeless presence.
The Tournaire Vision
In this contemporary interpretation, Mathieu Tournaire breathes new life into Pompon’s bear.
His use of gears, a signature motif of the Maison, symbolizes knowledge transmission, the passing of time, and the invisible bonds that connect beings to their environment. This visual dialogue between mechanical precision and organic grace results in an object of both reflection and emotion. Crafted using the lost-wax casting technique, each bronze sculpture is hand-finished in the Tournaire workshops in Montbrison. An alliance of art and craftsmanship that bridges eras — honoring the heritage of Pompon while speaking the language of today.
An artwork, a legacy.
The Gear Bear continues the great tradition of collaboration between artists and master craftsmen. Echoing the historic 1925 partnership between Pompon and silversmith Paul Bablet, this creation unites sculpture and jewelry into one refined, timeless form.
