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 Disderot, Olivier Mourgue
Located in Los Angeles, 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 made in France by Disderot wi...
Stainless Steel, Aluminum
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
$1,002Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.54 in W 2.76 in D 3.75 in
Art Deco Wall Lamp Applique in Brass and Glass , Wall Sconce , Several Available
Located in Milano, IT
Flush Mount , Wall Sconces , Light Fixture , Art Deco Style Offered for sale is a stunning contemporary wall light, designed and hand crafted in Milano, Italy by expert artisans us...
Brass
$1,181
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...
Brass, Nickel, Metal
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
Olivier Mourgue Model 2093-150 Floor Lamp for Disderot
By Olivier Mourgue, Disderot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Olivier Mourgue model 2093-150 floor lamp for Disderot Originally designed in 1969, this sculptural floor lamp is a newly produced numbered edition. Comes ...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Olivier Mourgue for Disderot Flower Lamp
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Olivier Mourgue for Disderot, floor lamp, model '2093-150', chrome-plated metal, aluminum, France, 1967. An exquisitely distinctive floor lamp designed to captivate. Conceived by ...
Metal, Aluminum
Maison Charles Wall Lights Appliques Sconces Model Orgue
By Maison Charles
Located in Lausanne, CH
Pair of wall lights by Maison Charles, model Orgue. Designed by Jacques Charles in the 1970's, inspired by the shape of a musical organ pipe. There are two contrasting finishes, the ...
Stainless Steel
Olivier Mourgue Model 2093-225 Floor Lamp for Disderot
By Olivier Mourgue, Disderot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Olivier Mourgue model 2093-225 floor lamp for Disderot. Originally designed in 1969, this sculptural floor lamp is a newly produced numbered edition. Come...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Donut wall or ceiling lamp by Doria
By Glashütte Limburg, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Doria Leuchten Germany, 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
$1,039
H 7.09 in Dm 9.45 in
Castiglioni Red Metal "Light Ball" Wall or Ceiling Lamp for Flos, Italy 1970s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
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
Appliqué à volet wall sconces (sold individually)
By Philips
Located in Montréal, QC
Appliqué à volets wall sconces by Massive/Philips. Enameled aluminium. 40 watts max E-14 European bulb recommended or higher if LED/CFL. MULTIPLE COLORS, SOLD INDIVIDUALLY. Please ...
Enamel, Steel
$998 / 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
$2,131 / 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
Pair of Very Large Sconces by Olivier Mourgue, circa 1970, France
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Girona, Spain
Pair of very large sconces by Olivier Mourgue Black lacquered metal circa 1970, France Good vintage condition.
Metal