YMER&MALTA

The YMER&MALTA studio is driven by the desire to innovate while honoring tradition. Our work lies at the intersection of contemporary design and exceptional craftsmanship — where advanced materials and meticulous techniques come together to create limited-edition pieces that are both functional and sculptural. Every project reflects our commitment to detail, quality, and thoughtful design.

OURS

Aubusson Tapestry : The Great Lady Collection
YMER&MALTA / Benjamin Graindorge
2019

Aubusson Tapestry and Wood
L.140 x W.44 x H.185cm
Limited Edition of 8 pieces

« The Cabinet is adorned with a tapestry of a bear, a mass of energy with living threads reminding us that the precious wooden structure was once a massive, towering tree. »
Bruno Ythier – Chief Curator at the Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie d’Aubusson

A number of crafts were used in the creation of Ours, like the new approach to Aubusson tapestries and the very technical woodwork process, which ranges from traditional Japanese assembly techniques to fine digital machining.

The biggest challenge was to faithfully render the bears, their intense expressions, the texture of their pelts and the shine in their eyes, while maintaining a truly contemporary feel.

The choice of colours for the tapestry was made bearing in mind the rare species of wood chosen, rare Bog Oak whose deep grey colour comes from having spent thousands of years at the bottom of swamps, rivers or lakes.

The classical design of the cabinet was reworked to find the perfect balance between poetry and reality.

This piece was presented at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris during Valérie Maltaverne’s Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres Award ceremony.

Acquired by the Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie

fallenTree: A Dialogue Between Craftsmanship and Design

It all begins in Loire-Atlantique, where Valérie Maltaverne and craftsman/carpenter Matthieu Bidard meticulously choose oak tree branches. It’s not just a matter of aesthetics: each selected branch already tells a story, with its unique grain and organic curves.

Once transported to the workshop, the oak branches and industrial planks are assembled with respect and precision. The craftsman carves the seat while preserving the natural qualities of the wood, revealing its veins and imperfections, which become an integral part of the design.

The greatest challenge? Finding the balance between the raw strength of the oak and the lightness of the borosilicate glass that supports it. At every step, Valérie and the craftsman exchange, test, and adjust.

It’s not just about making a bench, but about merging art and craftsmanship. Through this dialogue between human hands and nature, fallenTree is not only a bench; it becomes a testament to the deep connection between ancestral know-how and contemporary innovation.

The fallenTree is much more than a piece of furniture: it is a functional sculpture, now displayed in prestigious institutions such as the Centre Pompidou, the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris, and the Albertine Foundation in New York.

“Working with YMER&MALTA means connecting my craft with the demands of design. Each piece becomes a challenge, an evolution of my expertise.” – Matthieu Bidard

FALLENTREE
Morning Mist Collection
YMER&MALTA/ Benjamin Graindorge
2011

Merci à Matter and Shape pour ce salon à la fois élégant et efficace. Chaque stand, conçu comme un écrin unique, sublime les œuvres exposées et en facilite la lecture. La sélection des exposants crée un véritable sentiment d’appartenance à une famille d’excellence.
Un immense merci également à une équipe aussi professionnelle que chaleureuse !



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Happy to announce that YMER&MALTA will be presented at the MATTER and SHAPE design salon this year.

March 7 — 10, 2025
Jardin des Tuileries, Paris, France

2025 marks the centenary of the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, and MATTER and SHAPE (2025) draws inspiration from this pivotal moment in design history.

Establishing a dialogue between tradition and innovation, nostalgia and contemporaneity, this edition pays homage to the ambitious projects and national pavilions that spread across central Paris 100 years ago, with dedicated projects, design talks and architectural references throughout.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

TABOURET 100

Composed of three intertwined rings, the Tabouret 100 is the first piece of furniture made in 3D printing in eco-responsible, bio-sourced linen PLA without endocrine disruptors.

Faithful to her discreet luxury line, Valérie Maltaverne designed a stool with refined curves, staying true to the long tradition of French furniture.

Le Mobilier National has acquired the very first Tabouret 100 in Blue, White and Red, a limited edition of 8 pieces celebrating French craftsmanship.

Nature as a primary source of inspiration.

For Valérie Maltaverne, observing a bed of lichen, a tree, a riverbank, or a ray of light is central to YMER&MALTA’s creative process. This deep connection to the natural world shapes the studio’s designs, resulting in forms that exude delicate poetry and elegance.

By seamlessly blending interior and exterior spaces, the YMER&MALTA showroom embodies this philosophy—not just drawing inspiration from nature but immersing itself in it. The interplay of natural light, organic materials, and fluid spatial design creates an environment where nature’s rhythms influence both the creative process and the final pieces.

Rather than a rigid, structured layout, the showroom encourages intuitive movement, much like a natural landscape that invites exploration.

The YMER&MALTA studio is open everyday from Monday to Friday by appointment from 10:30am to 7:00pm.

To book a private visit, email us at [email protected].