Guillerme & Chambron Sofa in Oak and Purple Upholstery

About the Item

Guillerme & Chambron for Votre Maison, sofa, model 'Gregoire', fabric, oak, France, 1960s The ‘Gregoire’ sofa is designed by the French designer duo Jacques Chambron and Robert Guillerme. The design features a stable construction featuring the typical characteristic decorative details, such as the evenly placed ornate spindles that together form the backrest and the capricious forms of the legs. The eye-catching purple colored upholstery gives the room a vibrant and lively touch. The high back in combination with the thick cushions provides an ultimate level of comfort. The French designer duo Jacques Chambron (1914-2001) and Robert Guillerme (1913-1990) started their production postwar. Many of the furniture designed by this duo this piece shows a strong character and has a great expressive woodwork. The duo installed themselves in an old factory where the machinery was used to make rifles. Guillerme & Chambron saw the potential of these machinery and decided to continue production as it was installed and used them for the design of their high back chairs. The line of different furniture pieces was made in small editions. They call their collection “Votre Maison” which means “Your home.” Please note that we advise reupholstery before use. This item might contain some threadbare upholstery with loose seams and small stains. Reupholstery can be done before shipping by our experienced craftsmen and -women in our own in-house restoration atelier. With high attention for the original, they make sure every piece retains its value and is ready for the many years to come. We kindly ask you to contact our design experts for further information about the endless possibilities our restoration and upholstery atelier has to offer. Of course, a locally organized reupholstery is possible as well.

Creator:

Votre Maison (Manufacturer),Guillerme et Chambron (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 33.08 in (84 cm)Width: 55.12 in (140 cm)Depth: 35.44 in (90 cm)Seat Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Fabric,Oak

Place of Origin:

France

Period:

1960-1969

Date of Manufacture:

1960s

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Every item Morentz offers is checked by our team of 30 craftsmen in our in-house workshop. Special restoration or reupholstery requests can be done. Check ‘About the item’ or ask our design specialists for detailed information on the condition.

Seller Location:

Waalwijk, NL

Reference Number:

Seller: 4900001931stDibs: LU933127197112

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Shop All Guillerme et Chambron

Guillerme et Chambron

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.