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 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
$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
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
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
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Barrel Back Lounge Chairs
By Milo Baughman
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple and elegant pair of barrel back lounge armchairs with chrome tube frames. Great size and shape, seat height is 18.75, very comfy with chrome in tip top shape. Upholstery is a ...
Chrome
$4,600 / set
H 33.75 in W 36 in D 38.5 in
Orchidee Lounge Chairs and Ottoman by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France 1968
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Chicago, IL
Orchidee Lounge Chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France 1968. Original upholstery is excellent condition. Sofa sold in separate ...
Upholstery
Safari Armchair in Natural Cognac Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Safari lounge chair, leather, stained beech, metal, Europe, 1970s Stunning safari lounge chair covered in original upholstery made of natural cognac brown leather. The chair shows v...
Metal
Mid Century Lounge Chair after Risom Big Chair
By Jens Risom
Located in New York, NY
Chic and sophisticated architectural lounge chair, after the iconic Risom big chair. The chair has a large upholstered seat which is set in a solid walnut fr...
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Brown Leather Lounge Chair
By Coja Culemborg
Located in Weesp, NL
Mid-Century Modern Coja lounge chair produced in the Netherlands. Stylish and comfortable 1960s brown leather lounge chair. Both the ch...
Leather, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Lounge Chair with Spindle Back, 1950s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This striking mid-century modern lounge chair showcases the timeless balance of sculptural form and functional comfort that defines the best of 1950s–1960s design. Crafted with a sol...
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Spindle Back Lounge Chair, 1950s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This striking mid-century modern walnut lounge chair, crafted in the United States during the 1950s, captures the effortless balance between sculptural design and everyday comfort th...
Fabric, Walnut
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
Mid Century Leather Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
Mid-Century Modern style leather upholstered armchair with a floating headrest, with vintage style aniline top grade brown leather with a tub back form, cushion seat and raised on sp...
Leather
Mid Century Modern Lounge Chairs A Pair
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Hudson, NY
Everything about these chairs is right on the money. The perfect amount of upholstery, wood and quality. The lies are strong ad angular, suggesting movement. The seats are wide ad co...
Fabric, Wood
$475Sale Price|55% Off
H 26.78 in W 25.99 in D 27.56 in
French Mid-Century Lounge Chair in Leatherette
Located in SAINTE-COLOMBE, FR
French midcentury Lounge Chair in Leatherette A very comfortable French midcentury Lounge Chair upholstered in leatherette (faux leather) and fixed with brass studs all around. ...
Brass
Pair of Mid-Century Flat Bar Chrome Lounge Chairs
By Milo Baughman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stunning vintage modern pair of lounge chairs feature a heavy flat bar chrome frame and thick padded seats. The unique sloped armrests and tufted backrest add to the midcentury ...
Chrome
Olivier Mourgue Djinn chair - France, 1965
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in London, GB
Olivier Mourgue (b. 1939) is a French artist and industrial designer best known for his ‘Djinn’ series with Airborne International. Mourgue took inspiration from djinn, Arabian genies that could adopt any form – human or animal – to produce a fluid, almost nebulous form. Thanks to a prominent appearance in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, the chair is often referred to as the ‘2001 chair...
Bouclé
Sold
H 25.99 in W 26.78 in D 26.78 in
Dijnn Armchair and Ottoman by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, France, 1965
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Barcelona, ES
Djinn armchair and ottoman designed by Olivier Mourgue in 1965 for the french company Airbone and in production from 1965 to 1976. The Djinn series are an icon of the lifestyle of th...
Metal
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H 26.78 in W 27.56 in D 31.5 in
Rare Original Djinn Chair and Ottoman by Olivier Mourgue, France, 1960s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Rare original Djinn chair and ottoman by Olivier Mourgue, France, manufactured by Airborne International, circa 1965. Early edition newly upholstered in high quality wool Lelievre La...
Metal
Sold
H 26.38 in W 26.38 in D 29.53 in
Olivier Mourgue Djinn Blue Armchair for Airborne 1960s New Kvadrat Fabric
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
The Djinn armchair, designed by Olivier Mourgue (born 1939) for Airborne in 1964-1065, is one of those very few quintessential and emblematic early space age designs which - much like the character from the 2001 a Space Odissey movie where they were notoriously featured - evaded space and time to, at first glance, catch the eye and the heart of the beholder, no matter the context nor the timeframe. A design icon of its own, a climax of the 1960s french seat...
Steel
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H 25.6 in W 28.35 in D 30.32 in
Djinn Armchair & Ottoman Attributed to Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, 1960s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in ŁÓDŹ, PL
A rare Olivier Mourgue “Djinn” armchair & ottoman upholstered in new premium fabric from Belgium, wool blend, 1960s. A highly in demand, and hard-to-find Olivier Mourgue “Djinn” armchair & ottoman, newly reupholstered in bouclé fabric, produced by a recognizable Belgium fabric manufacturer. This beautiful set as a part of “Dijin” series is well known for its appearance in “2001: A Space Odyssey” by Stanley Kubrick and is part of Center de Pompidou and the New York’s MoMA collection. Examples of armchairs without armrests are more common, and parts with armrests are much harder to find. This epic piece of modernism from the mid-twentieth century is as beautiful as it is comfortable and will surely become a favorite piece of furniture in your home. Armchair dimensions: Width: 72 cm / 28.34 in. Depth: 77 cm / 30.21 in. Height: 67 cm / 26.37 in. Ottoman dimensions: Width: 72 cm / 28.34 in. Depth: 58 cm / 22.83 in. Height: 40 cm / 15.74 in. About the Designer: Olivier Mourgue (French, born 1939) 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 fabric stretched over structural steel frames that are filled with polyether foam, creating a unified, futuristic, alien-like modular form. Born in Paris, France in 1939, he began his career with an innovative design for a chaise lounge in 1964, after which he expanded his original furniture line to include loveseats, stools, and anthropomorphic chairs. Despite also producing paintings and drawings, his career was ultimately dedicated to Industrial Design, and provided a quintessential aesthetic of 1960s Modernist furniture...
Metal
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H 27.17 in W 27.56 in D 29.53 in
Djinn Chair with Ottoman in Bouclé by Olivier Morgue for Airborne, 1960s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Amazing 'Djinn' Lounge chair with ottoman by Olivier Mourgue currently freshly recovered in a cream boucle fabric. This incredible sculptural design is also highly comfortable! This ...
Bouclé
Sold
H 26.38 in W 28.35 in D 30.32 in
Olivier Mourgue 1960s "Djinn" Armchair & Ottoman in Fluffy Pierre Frey Fabric
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Hitchin, England
A rare Olivier Mourgue "Djinn" armchair & ottoman in New Fluffy Alpaca Pierre Frey Fabric, France, 1960s. A highly in-demand & hard-to-find Olivier Mourgue "Djinn" armchair & ottoma...
Metal
Sold
H 26.38 in W 28.35 in D 30.32 in
Olivier Mourgue 1960s "Djinn" Armchair & Ottoman in Fluffy Pierre Frey Fabric
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Hitchin, England
A rare Olivier Mourgue "Djinn" armchair & ottoman in New Fluffy Alpaca Pierre Frey Fabric, France, 1960s. A highly in-demand & hard-to-find Olivier Mourgue "Djinn" armchair & ottoma...
Metal
Sold
H 27.56 in W 26.38 in L 27.56 in
Olivier Mourgue 1960s "Djinn" Armchair in New Fluffy Alpaca Pierre Frey Fabric
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Hitchin, England
A rare Olivier Mourgue "Djinn" armchair in new Fluffy alpaca Pierre Frey fabric, France, 1960s. A highly in-demand & hard-to-find Olivier Mourgue "Djinn" armchair newly upholstered ...
Metal
Sold
H 26.78 in W 28.35 in D 28.75 in
Rare Djinn Chair by Olivier Mourgue, New Wool Boucle Fabric, France, 1960s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Rare Djinn chair by Olivier Mourgue, France, manufactured by Airborne International, circa 1965. Early edition newly upholstered in high...
Metal
Sold
H 26.78 in W 27.56 in D 29.53 in
Olivier Mourgue Pair of Chaise Longue Djinn Model in Yellow Fabric
By Airborne International, Olivier Mourgue
Located in Milano, IT
The Djinn chaise longue is considered to be among the first tubular steel furniture designs with polyurethane foam padding: this innovative structure gave it its softly curved charac...
Steel
Pair of Joker Armchairs by Olivier Mourgue, 1970s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Pair of vintage Joker armchairs designed by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne International. Beautiful, timeless designed chromed steel frames with their o...
Chrome