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.
20th Century, Olivier Mourgue Lounge Chair mod. Tjinn
By Airborne International, Olivier Mourgue
Located in Turin, Turin
Olivier Mourgue is a French artist and industrial designer. Best known for his design of the Djinn line of furniture, Mourgue's aesthetic is characterized by brightly colored jersey ...
Iron
Djinn Armchair and Ottoman by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Kelkheim (Taunus), HE
Designer Olivier Mourgue Brand Airborn, France Era 1960’s Material metall, foam, black fabric Size 70 cm x 70,5 cm x 65,5 cm I 36,5 cm Size ottoman 71 cm × 57 cm × 39,5 cm Con...
Metal
Restored Olivier Mourgue "Djinn" Chaise Lounge for Airborne
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Berlin, DE
Newly upholstered Djinn Chaise Lounge in Kvadrat Tonus wool fabric. The color as close as it was shown in the 2001 movie by Stanley Kubrick. Excel...
Metal
Rare Olivier Mourgue 'Whist' Chaise Longue in Black Leather
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, chaise longue, black leather, steel, France, 1960s A rare chaise lounge from the 'Whist' collection by Olivier Mourgue. The piece is wonderful in its d...
Steel
1970s French Bouloum Chaise Lounge Chairs by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Victoria, BC
Pair of original Bouloum lounge chairs designed by Olivier Mourgue, produced in the 1970s. Sculptural, low-slung forms with generous proportions, ...
Metal
French 'Djinn' Chaise Lounge by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne International, 1965
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Chicago, IL
The 'Djinn' chaise lounge, designed by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne International in 1965, is an icon of futuristic and Space Age design. Characterized by its fluid, low-slung silhou...
Upholstery
Olivier Mourgue "Djinn" Daybed for Airborne, France 1965
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Utrecht, NL
French industrial designer Oliver Mourgue obtained his degree in Interior Design at the prestigious École Boulle, from where he went on to pursue his passion in furniture design at t...
Fabric, Upholstery
"Djinn" Chaise Lounge By Olivier Mourgue For Airborne, France 1960's
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Tel Aviv-Yafo, IL
Iconic, heavily sought after and rare design piece. Made of a steel frame, foam and still in its original purple upholstery. the Djinn series became famous after appearing in Stanle...
Fabric
Green space age Djinn lounge chair by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne 1964
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp
Djinn lounge chair designed by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne. The iconic Lounge chair was designed in 1964 and the Djinn series became a hallmark of Mourgue’s work. It was used in the...
Fabric
Olivier Mourgue Djinn Chaise Longue for Airborne with Pierre Frey fabric
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
The Djinn chaise longue, designed by Olivier Mourgue (born 1939) for Airborne in 1963, is one of those very few quintessential and emblematic early space age designs which - much lik...
Steel
Djinn' chaise longue by Oliver Mourgue
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in New York, NY
A true icon of futuristic design, the Djinn chaise longue embodies the optimism and fluidity of the Space Age. Designed in France by Olivier Mourgue and p...
Upholstery
Olivier Mourgue Bouloum Fabric Lounge Chair, 1970s France
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sleek chaise lounge chair by Olivier Mourgue. Made in France, 1970s. Black fabric in good vintage condition with some light fading. Presents extremely well. Great piece of usable art...
Fabric
Olivier Mourgue, Djinn Sofa, 1965
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in London, GB
This iconic Space Age sofa was designed by Olivier Mourgue and made popular by Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968). Olivier Mourgue is a French industrial ...
Suede
Djinn Lounge Chair by Olivier Mourgue, 1960s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Olivier Mourgue France (1939-) A graduate of the Ecole Boulle, Olivier Mourgue enrolled at the National School of Decorative Arts in Paris. From 1964, he worked closely with Airborne for which he designed the Joker armchairs, the Djinn, Tric-Trac and Whist series. The Djinn lounge chair...
Metal
$4,800 / item
Olivier Morgue Djinn Sofa
By Olivier Mourgue, Airborne International
Located in Greensboro, NC
Olivier Morgue Djinn Sofa, Manufactured by Airborne International, France. The Djinn sofa gained significant fame after its appearance in the 1968 Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space...
Steel
Bouloum Lounge Chair by Olivier Mourgue, 1970's
By Olivier Mourgue, Arconas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bouloum lounge chair by Olivier Mourgue, 1970's. In good vintage condition.
Fabric
Djinn Armchair and Ottoman by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Iconic Djinn armchair and ottman designed by Olivier Mourgue for French company Airborne. Tubular steel frame and original fabric. Imported from Denmark. Needs upholstery. Ottoman me...
Fabric
Olivier Mourgue 'Djinn' chaise lounge Reupholstered British wool fabric
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in London, GB
An iconic 'Djinn' chaise lounge designed by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, France, circa 1960s. This sculptural piece is part of the celebrated Djinn series — best known for its futur...
Wool
$1,950Sale Price|35% Off
Olivier Mourgue Joker Leather Armchair
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Olivier Mourgue leather chair edited by Airborne in the 1960's, model " Joker " Chrome steel base with straps and original leather cushion
Chrome
Olivier Mourgue pair of rare Montreal armchairs Airborne France 1967
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Paris, FR
References: ARC-Mobilier National public collection, inventory number GMT-22591-014 Commissioned by the Mobilier National for the French pavilion at the 1967 Universal Exhibition. O...
Metal, Chrome
Two-Seat Djinn Sofa by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
Another classic piece by Mourgue, this one a two seat sofa, completely reupholstered including foam webbing and fabric, and the fabric used is top quality 'Stretch' by Knoll.
Upholstery
Djinn Sofa by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, France, 1960s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Antwerp, BE
Djinn sofa by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, 1960s France, an iconic sofa upholstered in luxurious white bouclé. It is inspired by the mythical shape-shifting djinn of Arab culture, i...
Metal
Olivier Mourgue, Djinn, Pair of Ottomans, France, 1965
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in New York, NY
First introduced by Airborne in Merignac Cedex, France, the Djinn ottoman accompanied the iconic Modernist Djinn chair, originally known as the "low, fireside chair", and also the "2...
Steel
Djinn Chaise by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
An original chaise frame from Olivier Mourgue for Airborne in France, rewebbed, refoamed and recovered in Knoll international fabric, which all comply with current fire safety regula...
Steel
Djinn sofa, Olivier Mourgue for Ariborne International, France 1960
By Olivier Mourgue, Airborne International
Located in Torino, IT
Djinn sofa, Olivier Mourgue for Ariborne International, France 1960
Fabric
Iconic 'Cubique' Chair by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne International, 1968
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Voorburg, NL
Iconic 'Cubique' chair designed by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne International, France 1968. The chair has a chromed tubular steel construction supporting a wire frame upholstered in ...
Steel, Chrome
$5,000 / set
Pair of French Lounge Chairs by Olivier Mourgue
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Atlanta, GA
Casual and chic compared to the more formal Barcelona chairs by Mies Van Der Rohe, this pair of lounge chairs by French designer Olivier Mourgue was dubbed as "joker" chair for its s...
Stainless Steel
$2,736 / item
Whist Lounge Chairs by Olivier Mourgue, France, 1964
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Barcelona, ES
Whist lounge chairs designed in 1964 by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, France. Chrome-plated and lacquered steel structure and original corduroy upholstery.
Metal, Steel
Rare Olivier Mourgue Montreal armchairs dark blue velvet
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Paris, FR
This is a very rare collectible pair of historic french design chairs Olivier Mourgue (1939-) Pair of Montreal armchairs Mobilier National-Atelier de recherche et création, Airbor...
Metal, Chrome
Mid Century Lounge Chair for Airborne International, Belgium
By Olivier Mourgue, Airborne International
Located in Voorburg, NL
A rare high backed version of a Belgium Lounge chair with heavily chromed steel frame and upholstered in black faux leather. The chair is numbered, we don't know the manufacturer. De...
Chrome
Original Olivier Mourgue Fiberglass Bouloum Lounge Chair
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in New York, NY
Iconic “Bouloum” chase lounge designed by Olivier Mourgue., a French industrial designer . This fiberglass sculptural lounge has a human body shape and said to be named after a chil...
Fiberglass
Olivier Mourgue Cubique Chair by Airborne, France 1968
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in CA, CA
Iconic 'Cubique' chair designed by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne International, France 1968. Chromed tubular steel construction supporting a wire frame upholstered in black jersey fab...
Chrome
$4,273Sale Price|20% Off
Canapé 3 Places Whist Vintage par Olivier Mourgue pour Airborne, 1964, 1960
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in SAINT-SEVER, FR
Canapé 3 Places Whist Vintage par Olivier Mourgue pour Airborne, 1964,
Stainless Steel
Bouloum Lounge Chair by Olivier Mourgue for Arconas
By Olivier Mourgue, Arconas
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s. Reupholstered in Kvadrat felt. More available if needed.
Felt
Olivier Mourgue Fiberglass Lounge Chair, 1971 France
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great sculptural fiberglass lounge chair by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne. Made in 1971, France. Good vintage condition with wear as shown. Cool piece of art for indoors or outside by...
Fiberglass
The Bouloum Chair by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne International
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed in 1968, made of gel-coated fiberglass.
Fiberglass
Leather and Chrome Olivier Mourgue Cubique chair by Airborne, France 1968
By Airborne International, Olivier Mourgue
Located in Echt, NL
Beautiful Cubique chair in very good conditio. Designed by Oliver Mourgue Manufactured by Airborne France, 1968 Sculptural “Cubique” lounge chairs, designed by Olivier Mourgue an...
Metal, Chrome
Mid Century Low-Back Lounge Chair in Chrome, Belgium
By Olivier Mourgue, Airborne International
Located in Voorburg, NL
A rare low backed version of a Mid century Lounge chair with heavily chromed steel frame and upholstered in black faux leather. The chair is numbered. Designed, circa 1975 in Belgium...
Chrome, Steel
Olivier Mourgue, Lounge Chair and ottoman "Suede", France, 1970
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Barcelona, ES
Olivier Mourgue (1939– ) Lounge chair model “Suede” Manufactured by Airbone France, 1970s Steel, upholstery Measurements 75 cm x 80 cm x 97 cm 29.53 in. x 31.5 in. x 38.19...
Steel