Guillerme & Chambron Corner Desk in Stained Oak

Guillerme et Chambron, corner desk, stained oak, France, 1960s

This executive desk shows the fine craftsmanship and aesthetic characteristics of designer duo Guillerme and Chambron. The stained oak has aged beautifully. The basic construction and clear shape give the piece a strong appearance. Due to the open frame, the storage units and the top seem to be floating, which adds a certain lightness to the design. The front edge of the desk, where the user sits, is gently curved underneath. This is one of the refined details to be found in this model. Another nice trait is the rectangular inlay in the top. Due to the fairly large storage units this piece is highly functional as well. The drawer unit holds three well sized drawers, while the return element on the left has a sliding top to open and close when needed.

The French designer duo Jacques Chambron (1914-2001) and Robert Guillerme (1913-1990) started their production postwar. Robert Guillerme studied design and architecture at the École Boule and graduated first in his class in 1934. Meanwhile, Jacques Chambron graduated from the School of Applied Arts in Reims. During the Second World War, the two met in a stalag, a Prussian prisoner camp, while being imprisoned by the Germans in East Prussia and started a great friendship based on their intense and deep passion for interior design. In 1948, Chambron resigned from his job as a painter and decorator on the Rue Nollet in Paris to move to Lille, in the North of France and join Guillerme. A year later, the two met cabinetmaker Émile Dariosecq, who was the owner of a workshop close by. It was during this meeting, that they decided to create their own company. They named it “Votre Maison”, meaning “Your Home”, which became the soul of the company. With this, they wanted to create pieces that focused on functionality combined with a beautiful design useful for daily life, by which they created a worldwide reputation. Most of the furniture designed by this duo shows a strong character and has a great expressive woodwork. The three of them divided their work equally. Overall, Guillerme worked as a designer, Chambron as a commercial, and Dariosecq’s workshop manufactured the pieces. Throughout their career, ‘Votre Maison’ produced over two thousand models, leaving a lasting mark in the world of design.

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