When it came to creating his visually pleasing armchairs, lounge chairs and office chairs, designer Geoffrey Harcourt stuck to his design dictum: “First the person, then the chair.” The result? Mid-century modern furniture that was not only ergonomic and comfortable but artistic in form.
Born in 1935 in London, Harcourt’s artistic leanings began at an early age. In his youth, he attended the High Wycombe Technical School, followed by the High Wycombe School of Art, where he obtained a national diploma in design and a place to study at the Royal College of Art. After graduating in 1960, Harcourt left the United Kingdom. for Chicago, where he worked in industrial design until 1961. Then, he went to Copenhagen and worked with designer Jacob Jensen.
In 1962, Harcourt returned to the U.K. and began designing his first series of open-armed chairs for the Dutch furniture manufacturing company Artifort. His Space Age 042 Series lounge chair, designed in 1963, was an immediate success and launched Artifort into the international furniture market — like Olivier Mourgue’s low-slung Djinn chair, Harcourt’s seat was also prominently featured in Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Harcourt designed several other notable pieces for Artifort. These included his “500 Series” lounge chairs in 1967, the F140 swivel chair in 1970, and the undulating “Cleopatra” chaise longue also in 1970.
In addition to Artifort, Harcourt designed for several other furniture companies such as Dynamite Nobel, Mines and West, Trau of Turin, Hands of Wycombe and Steelcase Strafor. In his 70s, Harcourt retired from furniture design to focus on painting.
Harcourt’s furniture pieces have been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Design Council in London and Glasgow, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague. In 1978, he was awarded the title of Royal Designer for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Geoffrey Harcourt lounge chairs and other seating.
MCM Design "Exquis" Lounge Chair set by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Midcentury Modern Design "Exquis" Lounge Chair set by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort. Made in the Netherlands in the 1960's period. One armchair and one regular chair, both i...
Metal
1970s Geoffrey Harcourt Lounge Chairs with Bronze Frame and Sheepskin
By Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in New York, NY
Pair of custom bronze framed Lounge Chairs with sheepskin bucket seats and gunmetal grey leather outer backs. Designed by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifact.
Steel
$4,009
H 38.59 in W 38.59 in D 38.59 in
Mid Century F510 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1960s
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very comfortable Artifort "F510" lounge chair. Designed by the famous English designer Geoffrey Harcourt in the 60's. This chair is manufactured in the 70's. Very solid wooden fra...
Bouclé, Plastic, Wood
Cleopatra Sofa by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
This beautiful model Cleopatra chaise longue or sofa was designed by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort in the 70's. This original Artifort piece has just been reupholstered with lov...
Fabric
508 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very cute and comfortable Lounge Chair designed by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort in the 70's. It has a rotating metal foot. It has just been reupholstered with lovely bouclé fa...
Metal
$2,704
H 27.17 in W 28.35 in D 29.53 in
Mid Century 975 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1960s
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very comfortable lounge chair designed by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort in the 60's. It has a rotating foot. Original brown leather with nice patina.
Leather, Fiberglass
975 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very cute and comfortable 975 Lounge Chair designed by the famous Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort in the 70's. Solid frame with a pivoting foot. The chair has the original high qua...
Metal
$3,767
H 33.08 in W 33.86 in D 35.04 in
Midcentury F518 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Extremely comfortable Artifort F518 lounge chair. Designed by the famous English designer Geoffrey Harcourt in the 70's. Very solid wooden frame with a large pivoting metal foot. ...
Metal
975 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very cute and comfortable 975 Lounge Chair designed by the famous Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort in the 70's. Solid frame with a pivoting foot. The chair has the original high qua...
Metal
$2,390
H 24.81 in W 37.41 in D 33.47 in
Lounge Chair C610 by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, Netherlands, 1969
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Almelo, NL
Lounge chair C610 by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, Netherlands, 1969 The rich, coffee brown leather is still in good condition with no significant blemishes, a beautiful patina,...
Leather, Beech
$4,719
H 32.29 in W 35.83 in D 35.04 in
Midcentury F518 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Extremely comfortable Artifort F518 lounge chair. Designed by the famous English designer Geoffrey Harcourt in the 70's. Very solid wooden frame with a large pivoting metal foot. ...
Metal
F975 Swivel Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt, 1968
By Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Vintage Model F975 swivel lounge chair by British designer Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort 1968. This rare model features a curved, black fiberglass shell, black leather cushions, and ...
Leather, Fiberglass
$2,708
H 28.35 in W 26.78 in D 28.35 in
Model 975 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Iconic swivel lounge chair model 975, designed by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort. A beautiful example of Dutch modernist design, originally conceived in the 1970s and manufactured i...
Metal
Cleopatra Sofa by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
This beautiful model Cleopatra Chaise Longue or Sofa was designed by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort in the 70's. It has the original high-quality Kvadrat wool fabric in the color ...
Fabric, Foam
Sold
H 25.99 in W 27.96 in D 27.96 in
Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chair 508 by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Doornspijk, NL
One of the most beautiful undiscovered gems created by the British designer Geoffrey David Harcourt, born in 1935, is as far as we are concerned the model 508 with un-upholstered bac...
Metal
Geoffrey Harcourt F596 by Artifort 1967
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Ultra rare lounge chair designed by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, Holland 1967. This chair is model F596 and was only produced for 1 year at Artifort and is therefore very hard to ...
Upholstery