Guillerme & Chambron Highboard or Wardrobe in Solid Oak and Ceramic

Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, large sideboard or armoire, solid oak, ceramic, France, 1960s

This exceptional wardrobe designed by the French duo Guillerme et Chambron exemplifies their dedication to craftsmanship, simplicity in form, refined carvings, and functionality. The wardrobe is crafted from solid oak, a hallmark of their sturdy and artisanal style. The design includes prominent vertical and horizontal grooves carved into the doors, giving it a structured, modernist appearance. The wardrobe features ceramic handles with intricate decorative patterns, which is a signature detail in some of their works. The left side of the wardrobe has an open shelving space at the top and a drop-front desk with drawers beneath it. This multifunctional section highlights Guillerme et Chambron’s emphasis on practicality and elegance. The right section contains two doors, which open to larger compartments furnished with shelves.

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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