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 Votre Maison armchairs, credenzas, dining tables 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 Votre Maison furniture on 1stDibs.
Guillerme et Chambron, Oak shelf and Stool, Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970
By Votre Maison, Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron, oak stool and his shelf Edition Votre Maison circa 1970. Measures: Shelf : 36 x 56 x 30 cm.
Oak
Guillerme et Chambron, Oak Shelf Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970
By Votre Maison, Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron, oak shelf Edition Votre Maison circa 1970. Measures: Shelf : 36 x 56 x 30 cm.
Oak
1970s Danish Modern Teardrop Bentwood Wall Shelf Curios, Pair
Located in Doylestown, PA
Vintage 1970s Danish modern teardrop bentwood hanging curio shelves. A coordinating pair in two sizes with a double bentwood frame topped with a rope hoop hanger and secured with cop...
Rope, Bentwood
$695
H 9.45 in W 24.02 in D 8.86 in
French Riviera Style Shelf in Bamboo, Rattan and Wicker, Italy 1970s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Roma, IT
Delightful Mid-Century French Riviera–style wall shelf entirely made of bamboo, rattan, and hand-woven wicker. This stunning organic piece was likely designed in Italy during the 197...
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan
$1,200 / item
H 15.75 in W 48.82 in D 7.88 in
Libra Shelf 120, Minimalist Round Shaped Wall Shelf in oak and black metal
By Martinelli Venezia
Located in Milan, Lombardy
A Minimalist shape with a strong aesthetic. Made of solid oak oiled and supported by a iron stirrup. Inside the wooden shelf, a metal flat bar fixed to the support structure is hidde...
Metal
Late 19th Century English Oak Wall Shelf
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century oak hanging wall shelf from England. On the top of the shelf sits a lovely crown molding, following down to a pierced and scalloped frieze. There are two shelve...
Oak
$959Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.82 in W 23.63 in D 3.55 in
Art Nouveau wall shelf with poppies, France, circa 1900
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Superb wall shelf. Art Nouveau. France, circa 1900 In carved, stained and pyrographed wood. Asymmetrical openwork structure decorated with floral motifs (poppies). 2 small tablets....
Wood
Swedish Designer, Wall Shelf, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A small wall shelf designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 13.375"H x 22.3"W x 3.125"D All items ship from High Point, North Carolina.
Pine
$760Sale Price|49% Off
H 24 in W 20.63 in D 9.25 in
Circa 1860-1880 Black Forest Carved Eagle Wall Shelf
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A boldly carved eagle wall shelf, c.1860-80, Black Forest. Carved from linden wood. Beneath the shelf a spread eagle above a festoon of fruits & leav...
Wood
$2,254Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.54 in W 45.28 in D 8.86 in
Art Nouveau Oak Wall Shelf, Polished, German, Circa 1895, 115cm
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This unique hanging shelf is from the Art Nouveau period from Germany around 1895. The shelf is hung on the wall with two original eyelets. The shelf was made of oak and is hand poli...
Oak
$3,810 / set
H 4.73 in W 27.96 in D 7.88 in
Pair of Solid French Oak Shelves by Guillerme & Chambron - France 1960's
By Guillerme et Chambron
Located in New York, NY
Pair of matching solid French oak shelves by Guillerme & Chambron - France 1960s. Good vintage condition. These shelves will ship from France and can be returned to either France or ...
Oak
Late 19th Century English Oak Wall Shelf
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century oak hanging wall shelf from England. On the top of the shelf there is a lovely crown molding, following down to a pierced and scalloped frieze. There are two shel...
Oak
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.5 in W 10 in D 2.5 in
"Nudes with Lyres, " Rare, Limited Edition Wall Shelf with Symbolist Prints
By Adolfo Magrini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Extraordinarily rare, this rosewood and brass shelf unit incorporates a pair of Symbolist/Art Nouveau prints featuring male nudes playing highly stylized lyres by Adolfo Magrini. The...
Brass
$1,608
H 9.85 in W 39.38 in D 18.51 in
Briccola-ge Corner Desk and Shelf in solid Oak Wood and black lacquered brackets
By Miki Astori
Located in Milan, Lombardy
“The corner is a piece of home mistreated. A dead end with no way out. In every reality, in every culture, the corner is never dutifully considered”…. So, between the serious and the facetious, Miki Astori explains the project of Briccola-ge, a two- story practical and poetic work plan or small console where to operate in transitory moments. The wall hanging supports are in a mass-colored wooden technical material. The tops are made of solid oak strips with inserts of Briccola Veneziana, the old wooden dolphins...
Oak, Bog Wood