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
DESIGN Midcentury Wall or Ceiling Lamp, Flushmount, 1970s
By Ivan Jakes, Osvětlovací sklo n.p., Valašské Meuiříčí
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia,around 1970s - perfect original condition - new electricity jr
Metal
$3,036
H 59.85 in W 14.18 in D 5.52 in
1st Edition Olivier Mourgue Flower Lamp for Disderot Model 2093-150
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Uxbridge, GB
A true masterpiece of mid-century design, the Flower Lamp is a stunning work of art by celebrated French designer Olivier Mourgue. Originally released in 1967, this rare first editi...
Metal, Aluminum, Chrome
$3,729 / 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 Olivier Mourgue, Pierre Disderot
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
Donut wall or ceiling lamp by Doria
By Helena Tynell, Doria Leuchten Germany, Glashütte Limburg, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, 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
$1,194
H 5.91 in Dm 10.63 in
Sergio Mazza Italian "Sigma" Wall Lamp or Ceiling Light for Artemide, 1960s
By Artemide, Sergio Mazza
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
Donut Wall or Ceiling Lamp by J.T. Kalmar
By Doria Leuchten Germany, Gebrüder Cosack, Gaetano Sciolari, J.T. Kalmar, Harvey Guzzini
Located in München, DE
Stunning donut wall or ceiling lamp from the 1960s. The design creates a spectacular light. High quality. Design: J.T. Kalmar Manufacturer: Franken KG Condition: Very goo...
Metal
Glass ceiling or wall lamp italy around 1970s
Located in Wien, AT
Glass ceiling or wall lamp italy around 1970s The 4th and 5th photo shows the lamp as a wall lamp Original condition
Metal
RAAK Globe Outdoor Ceiling Or Wall Lamps 1970s
By RAAK
Located in Den Haag, NL
RAAK Amsterdam globe wall or ceiling lamps. In and outdoor. Black plastic fixture Grey smoked glass dome. Two sizes. 8 pieces 4 smaller ones, height 31 cm diameter 19 cm . 4 bigger o...
Glass
Kumo Ceiling or Wall Lamp by Kazuhide Takahama for Sirrah, 1980s
By Sirrah, Kazuhide Takahama
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Kumo ceiling or wall lamp designed by Kazuhide Takahama and produced by Sirrah in 1985. The model consists of an opaline glass shade and a metal suspension base. Literature: Domus ...
Metal
$2,131 / 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
$1,009 / 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
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