Guillerme & Chambron Oak Freestanding Desk

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Guillerme & Chambron Oak Freestanding Desk

About the Item

Guillerme et Chambron, desk, oak, by France, 1960s. This small desk is designed by the French designer duo Guillerme and Chambron. This writing desk holds the characteristic decorations and lines of this duo such as the decorative handles at the bottom of the drawers. Another feature is the tripod leg on the left and a section with three drawers. The top is inlaid with black polyester, which can be replaced with leather in our restoration workshop. Although this desk is small it is very sculptural and robust and also finished on the back. This means that the desk can be used freestanding and the design is so strong it can function well even in a large space. The French designer duo Jacques Chambron (1914-2001) and Robert Guillerme (1913-1990) started their production in the Post-War period in Lille. Together with manufacturer Émile Dariosecq they founed Votre Maison from 1949 onwards. They installed themselves in an old factory were the machinery was used to make rifles. They 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.”. Their collaboration was unique as it was Guillerme who designed the furniture, Chambron who decorated the homes and Dariosecq who produced the furniture. Guillerme and Chambron are seen as the creative force behind Votre Maison and many of the furniture by this duo this shows a strong character and has great expressive woodwork, original bold figures of an durable strong quality.

Creator:
Guillerme et Chambron (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 29.53 in (75 cm)Width: 49.22 in (125 cm)Depth: 28.94 in (73.5 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Oak
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1960-1969
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Waalwijk, NL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU933110128333

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.