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.
$6,530Sale Price|40% Off
Two Space-Age "042" Chairs by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort
By Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
A pair of model 042 chairs in cognac leather by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort. Produced in 1963, Harcourt's 042 chairs were featured in Stanley Kubrik's seminal film "2001: A Spa...
Steel
$3,309 / set
H 32.29 in W 35.44 in D 35.44 in
Early 'F141' Lounge Chair with Ottoman by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1972
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
Iconic ‘F141’ swivel lounge chair designed by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort in 1972. This is a chocolate brown leather version and it comes with its rare and matching footstool. Ear...
Metal
975 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
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
$4,550 / set
H 33.08 in W 27.56 in D 29.53 in
Geoffrey Harcourt Pair of F152 Lounge Chairs with Ottoman for Artifort 1975
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Meer, VAN
Geoffrey Harcourt Pair of F152 Lounge Chairs with Ottoman for Artifort, The Netherlands, 1975. Beautiful and original pair of swivel lounge chairs designed by Geoffrey Harcourt (193...
Leather, Wool
508 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
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
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
$2,659 / set
H 33.08 in W 27.56 in D 29.53 in
2 F152 Leather Swivel Lounge Chairs by Geoffrey D Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Geoffrey D. Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Izegem, VWV
Great set of lounge chairs by Geoffrey David Harcourt, designed for Artifort. These armchairs, upholstered in a brown leather on a plastic swivel base date from the 1970s and are in ...
Leather, Plastic
$9,430 / set
H 29.14 in W 29.93 in D 35.44 in
Set of 2 F517 Lounge Chairs by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very comfortable Artifort F517 lounge chair, set of 2. Designed by the famous English designer Geoffrey Harcourt in the 70's. Very solid wooden frame with a large pivoting metal ...
Metal
$4,727
H 28 in W 27 in D 27 in
Attributed to Geoffrey Harcourt design Artifort in years '68 space age armchair
By Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Biella, IT
attributed to Geoffrey Harcourt design for Artifort in years '68 space age armchair original from years '70; the structure of the armchair is in plastic material and the cushions i...
Synthetic, Resin
$4,170 / item
H 33.86 in W 33.86 in D 26.78 in
Customizable Artifort F142 Chair by Geoffrey D. Harcourt RDI
By Geoffrey D. Harcourt, Artifort
Located in New York, NY
A luxury chair for day-dreaming, relaxing or holding a conversation. It also has an optional footstool for even more comfort. Available in two versions, both with armrests. The chair...
Textile
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
$3,957 / item
H 36.62 in W 32.29 in D 26.78 in
Customizable Artifort F156 Chair by Geoffrey D. Harcourt RDI
By Geoffrey D. Harcourt, Artifort
Located in New York, NY
A luxury chair for day-dreaming, relaxing or holding a conversation. It also has an optional footstool for even more comfort. Available in two versions, both with armrests. The chair...
Textile
975 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970s
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
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
Sold
H 25.5 in W 33 in D 33 in
'Element' Sectional Set by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1973, Signed
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This very rare sectional sofa set is called the 'Element' system (models 615 and 616) designed and produced in 1973 by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort and consists of five sections (f...
Chrome