Guillaume Et Chambron
Vintage 1950s French Wall Lights and Sconces
Ceramic, Oak
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
Vintage 1960s Doors and Gates
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Wood
2010s Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Flush Mount
Aluminum
20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Metal
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
Chestnut
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Opaline Glass, Ceramic, Oak
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century French Other Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Guillerme et Chambron for sale on 1stDibs
Robert Guillerme and Jacques Chambron, the French creative duo behind Votre Maison, met under unusual circumstances: They discussed design while imprisoned in a forced labor camp. The pair’s combined talents later resulted in modern, sculptural furniture — today, vintage Guillerme et Chambron desks, dining tables, chairs and other pieces still look conceptually playful and vibrant but could fit harmoniously into any home.
Guillerme had graduated from the École Boulle in 1934 with a degree in design and architecture, and Chambron had studied at the School of Applied Arts in Reims. They were captured by the Germans in East Prussia during the Second World War and struck up a friendship over their mutual love for all things design. After the war ended, Guillerme moved to Lille in northern France; Chambron left his job as a painter and decorator in Paris and joined him in 1948. In 1949, the pair met Émile Dariosecq, a skilled cabinetmaker who enthusiastically agreed to manufacture the duo’s designs, leading to the start of Votre Maison.
Guillerme and Chambron were as prolific as they were detailed, producing more than 2,000 pieces in the second half of the 20th century out of a former gun factory. Their furniture, which was mostly made with different tones of waxed oak, adhered to the trends of design that emerged after the war: mid-century modernism.
European furniture in the postwar period largely prioritized function as much as it did form and lacked any unnecessary ornamentation. Guillerme and Chambron wanted people to actually use their furniture, not just look at it. That design philosophy was a pillar of their company, its name translating to “your house” in French. Their signature touches included ornate tiles, hidden drawers and vibrant textiles on pieces such as desks, tables, shelving, lighting, benches and other seating. One of Votre Maison’s most famous and popular pieces was the Grand Repos armchair, a stately, high-backed wide piece with a skeletal oak frame, six spindles and plush cushions.
While Guillerme and Chambron were a team, they handled different aspects of the business: Guillerme designed much of the furniture and Chambron concentrated on decor. Votre Maison was a full-service design business. In 1983, the dynamic duo passed on their company to Chambron’s son, Hervé, a designer and graduate of École Boulle.
Find a collection of vintage Guillerme et Chambron furniture on 1stDibs.