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.
Olivier Mourgue Model 2093-A Wall or Ceiling Lamp for Disderot
By Olivier Mourgue, Disderot
Located in Glendale, CA
Olivier Mourgue Model 2093-a wall or ceiling lamp for Disderot. Originally designed in 1969, this sculptural lamp is a newly produced numbered edition with authentication certifica...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Donut wall or ceiling lamp by Doria
By Glashütte Limburg, Doria Leuchten Germany, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Helena Tynell, J.T. Kalmar
Located in München, DE
Stunning donut wall or ceiling lamp from the 1960s. The design creates a spectacular light. High quality. Manufacturer: Doria Condition: Very good vintage condition with slight si...
Metal
$3,644 / set
H 59.06 in W 13.78 in D 7.88 in
Model 2093-A Olivier Mourgue 'Flower' Wall Applique Sconce. Available Now
By Pierre Disderot, Olivier Mourgue
Located in London, GB
In 1967, Olivier Mourgue invented a flower shaped lighting device, made of aluminum petals fixed on two chromed metal wires, for sconces, ceiling lights and standing lamps. He used this silver caped bulb, which was new at the time, and produced very high quality reflected lighting Pair of wall lights "flower" model Numbered and certificate of authentication...
Chrome
$1,029
H 7.09 in Dm 9.45 in
Castiglioni Red Metal "Light Ball" Wall or Ceiling Lamp for Flos, Italy 1970s
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing Mid-Century “Light Ball” wall or ceiling lamp in vibrant red enameled metal and opaline glass. This iconic flush mount light was designed by Achille Castiglioni and manufactu...
Metal
$1,170
H 5.91 in Dm 10.63 in
Sergio Mazza Italian "Sigma" Wall Lamp or Ceiling Light for Artemide, 1960s
By Sergio Mazza, Artemide
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous Mid-Century Modern "Sigma" nickel-plated brass and Murano glass wall lamp. Sergio Mazza designed this elegant ceiling lamp in Italy during the 1960s for Artemide. Fully or...
Metal, Nickel, Brass
$1,158
H 9.45 in Dm 12.6 in
Castiglioni Red Metal "Light Ball" Wall or Ceiling Lamp for Flos, Italy 1970s
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury "Light Ball" wall or ceiling lamp in wonderful red enameled metal and opaline glass. This iconic piece was designed by Achille Castiglioni and manufactured in Ital...
Metal
Glass ceiling or wall lamp italy around 1970s
Located in Wien, Au
Glass ceiling or wall lamp italy around 1970s The 4th and 5th photo shows the lamp as a wall lamp Original condition
Metal
$988 / item
H 5.91 in Dm 11.03 in
Rare 'Crystal Palace' Wall or Ceiling Lamp for RAAK, 1970s, 3 available
By RAAK
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This very special and hard to find lamp, the 'Crystal Palace', was made by RAAK in the 1970s. It is made of crystal glass and the crystal 'fingers' are silver-colored at the back. Th...
Crystal, Silver
$2,084 / item
H 31.5 in W 13.78 in D 5.12 in
Model 2093-80, Olivier Mourgue 1968 Standing/Table 'Flower' Lamp
By Olivier Mourgue, Pierre Disderot
Located in London, GB
Model 2093 lamp by Olivier Mourgue initially manufactured by Disderot in 1967. In chromed metal and raw aluminum. Silver cap bulb provided. Light loose of chrome veneer on the base. ...
Chrome
Rare Asymmetric Ceiling or Wall Lamp by Maison Lunel
By Arlus
Located in Hanover, MA
Royal Lumiere for Maison Lunel seems to be tipping its hat to Angelo Lelii of Arredoluce but this fixture is all French. Designed, circa 1953 with a tapered brass box back or ceiling plate for versatile mounting options. Four elongated enameled steel arms terminating in a mottled enameled aluminum perforated dish...
Brass, Steel
Large Pistillo Wall or Ceiling Lamp by Studio Tetrarch for Valenti Luce
By Kinkeldey, Emil Stejnar, Palwa, Studio Tetrarch, Valenti Luce
Located in München, DE
Spectacular wall or ceiling lamp from the 1960s. The design creates a fantastic play of light and enchants any room. Design: Studio Tetrarch Manufacturer: Valenti Luce Italy, circa ...
Plastic
$4,500Sale Price|40% Off
H 38 in W 5 in D 18.5 in
French 1950's Wall or Ceiling Lamp by Royal Lumiere for Lunel
By R. Lunel
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE Nov 22 2019 This French 1950's 8 bulb lamp is of extraordinary construction and versatility allowing it to mounted either as a wall lamp or ceiling fixture. Matte bl...
Brass, Steel
French 1950's 6 Globe Wall or Ceiling Lamp by Lunel
By Maison Lunel
Located in Hanover, MA
This large scale unusual French modernist fixture can be mounted either to a wall or ceiling and can be positioned pointed in either direction. The elbow form enameled steel arm wit...
Brass