With its undulating, futuristic and playful form, it’s easy to see why filmmaker Stanley Kubrick chose to use Olivier Mourgue’s iconic Djinn chair in his 1968 masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey. But the French artist and industrial designer is known for much more than the Space Age Djinn. From his whimsical Flower floor lamps to his anthropomorphic Bouloum chair, Mourgue is renowned as an important contributor to the 1960s Pop art era of modern furniture design.
Born in Paris in 1939, Mourgue grew up in an apartment filled with Empire-style antique furniture, which he derided as having “nothing to do with life.” He later studied art at Paris’s École Boulle, graduating in 1958. He then attended the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs.
In 1959, his former teacher at École Boulle, Marcel Merpillat, encouraged him to present a chair he designed at a competition hosted by furniture manufacturer Airborne. Airborne founder Charles Bernard was impressed by Mourgue’s design, which featured a leather-upholstered seat attached to a chrome steel frame; it was produced by the company under the name the Joker. Mourgue designed several other mid-century modern pieces for Airborne throughout the 1960s, including the Whist chaise longue, the rotund Montreal chair, the unique Cubique chair and the Djinn series, which first appeared in 1964.
In addition to Airborne, Mourgue has designed for furniture manufacturers such as Disderot and Prisunic, and collaborated with British architect and designer Sir Norman Foster and Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa.
Mourgue worked for Le Mobilier National to design the French Pavilion for Montreal’s Expo ‘67. In 1968, he received the International Design Award from the Institute of Interior Designers in New York for the Djinn lounge chair. He also exhibited several of his works at Expo ‘70 in Osaka, Japan.
Today, Mourgue’s pieces are part of the permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Olivier Mourgue seating, lighting and more.
$6,779 / set
H 29.14 in W 26.78 in D 30.32 in
Pair of Easy Chairs Model "F60" by Karl-Erik Ekselius, 1960s
By Karl-Erik Ekselius
Located in Stockholm, SE
Design Karl-Erik Ekselius, produced by JOC in Vetlanda, Sweden, 1960s. Chromed steel and original black leather cushions. Good vintage condition!
Chrome
$3,434Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 39.38 in W 29.53 in D 31.5 in
Fine Pair of Adjustable Trelax Chairs by Pierre Guariche, France, 1961
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Brussels, BE
Recovered in yellow velvet. Design by P.Guariche for Meurop in 1961. Litt.: Pierre Guariche by D.Jacob- L; Blaisse-A. Jeauneau. (Norma Editions) page 171.
Metal
$9,039 / set
H 26.78 in W 27.56 in D 27.96 in
Set of 2 Djinn lounge chairs by Olivier Mourgue, for Airborne, 1960s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in amstelveen, NL
Pair of 1970s Djinn lounge chairs by Olivier Mourque. Newly upholstered in warm camel-toned Kvadrat Apparel fabric with a geometric texture. The Djinn chair is one element of a seri...
Fabric
$3,954 / set
H 28.75 in W 33.08 in D 31.11 in
Pair of "Hombre" lounge chairs by Burkhard Vogtherr for Rosenthal, 1970s
By Rosenthal, Burkhard Vogtherr
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
Pair of lounge chairs from the Hombre series, designed by Burkhard Vogtherr for Rosenthal, produced as part of the Rosenthal Furniture program. In 1972, Rosenthal expanded its activ...
Leather, Oak
$2,824 / set
H 27.56 in W 26.78 in D 26.78 in
Pair of 'Visiteur' Easy Chairs by Pierre Guariche for Meurop, 1961
By Pierre Guariche, Meurop
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
Nice pair of ‘Visiteur’ or ‘Dusseldorf’ easy chairs designed by Pierre Guariche in 1961 and produced by Meurop in Belgium. This series consisted of modular chairs and sofas with or w...
Metal
$9,604 / set
H 33.86 in W 31.89 in D 33.47 in
Pair of armchairs "743" model by J.A. Motte, Ed. Steiner, France circa 1957
By Joseph-André Motte, Steiner
Located in Paris, FR
Joseph-André Motte (1925-2013), designer & Steiner, editor. Pair of comfortable lounge chairs. Black lacquered tubular metal frame. New upholstery and recent cover in ‘bouclette’ fa...
Metal
$7,500 / set
H 28.5 in W 23.75 in D 27.5 in
Pair of Model R-83 Armchairs by Ladislav Rado for Knoll & Drake
By Knoll & Drake, Ladislav Rado
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of model R-83 lounge / armchairs designed by Czechoslovakian Architect, Ladislav Rado, and produced for only one year in 1955 by Knoll and Drake (...
Steel
$7,344 / set
H 33.47 in W 27.96 in D 32.29 in
Troika Lounge Chairs Model by Pierre Guariche and Paul Geoffroy for Airborne
By Paul Geoffroy, Pierre Guariche
Located in Paris, FR
We're delighted to present this fantastic pair of Troika lounge chairs, designed by Pierre Guariche and Paul Geoffroy for Airborne in the 1960s, currently housed in our workshop in M...
Chrome
$10,847Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 26.78 in W 29.14 in D 36.62 in
Set of 2 Lounge Chairs by Gilles Bouchez for Airborne, 1972
By Gilles Bouchez
Located in Buzzò, Emilia-Romagna
Showcasing the meticulous work of French designer Gilles Bouchez, this set of two lounge chairs from 1972 is an iconic representation of mid-century modern design. Crafted by Airborn...
Metal
$10,327 / set
H 30.32 in W 26.78 in D 24.81 in
Set of two Commander armchairs, Jorge Zalszupin for l’Atelier. Brazil, 1972.
By Jorge Zalszupin, L'Atelier San Paulo
Located in Barcelona, ES
“Commander” armchair designed by Jorge Zalszupin for l’Atelier. Solid aluminum, plastic, fiberglass and new mustard color leather cushions. This Brazilian design icon was designed to...
Aluminum
Whist Lounge Chairs by Olivier Mourgue, France, 1964
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Barcelona, ES
Whist lounge chairs designed in 1964 by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, France. Chrome-plated and lacquered steel structure and original corduroy upholstery.
Metal, Steel
Pair of Lounge Chairs from 1960's, Spain
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of lounge chairs from 1960's, Spain. Interesting Spanish work with thick chrome steel plates, leather straps and original vinyl cushions.
Steel, Chrome
Pair of SK 660 Armchairs by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, 1953
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of armchairs model SK 660 designed in 1953 by Pierre Guariche for Steiner, France. Structure in black lacquered metal and upholstered in original tan leather.
Metal
Pair of Arm Chairs by Jordi Vilanova, Spain, 1960's
By Jordi Vilanova i Bosch
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of arm chairs designed in 1960's by Jordi Vilanova, Spain. Very rare model, designed only for meeting rooms. Walnut wood frame with original vinyl upholstery.
Fabric, Walnut
Pair of Safari Style Armchairs with Leather Straps Arm Rests, 1960's
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of safari style armchairs with leather straps arm rests, 1960's. Metal structure with vinyl sling and cushion and original leather straps arm rests.
Metal
Pair of Concorde Lounge Chairs by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1966
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Concorde Lounge Chairs model 780 designed in 1966 by French designer Pierre Paulin for Artifort, The Netherlands. Metal and foam structure with white lacquered molded aluminu...
Metal, Aluminum
