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.
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
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
$8,523Sale Price|25% Off
H 25.6 in W 76.78 in D 39.38 in
Mid-Century Modern Twins Chaise Longue, Beige Fabric, Handmade by Greenapple
By Rute Martins, Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Mid-Century Modern Twins Chaise Longue, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Twins chaise longue and its matching...
Walnut, Oak, Linen, Mohair, Fabric, Leather, Cotton, Velvet, Bouclé, Wood
Upholstered Daybed Chaise Longues
Located in Sheffield, MA
Graceful and inviting, the recamier chaise with arched back and rolled arm. The fainting couch is upholstered but it does show some ware. Although made in the Victorian period, it ...
Upholstery
$6,800
H 29.93 in W 60.63 in D 28.35 in
Citterio "Sity" Chaise Lounge for B&B Italia in Black Leather on Black Leather
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Strikingly chic and elegant chaise lounge by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia. One of the most desirable and rare pieces of the Sity range from 1986. Thi...
Steel
Danny Ho Fong for Tropi-Cal Basket Weave Cane Daybed, 1965
By Tropi-cal, Danny Ho Fong
Located in Chicago, IL
Danny Ho Fong for Tropi-Cal Basket Weave Cane Daybed, 1965. Original upholstery in good condition. Measures 27.25” tall 78 33” deep, mattress 74” long
Upholstery, Cane
$7,608Sale Price / item|40% Off
H 25.6 in W 76.78 in D 39.38 in
Mid-Century Modern Twins Chaise Longue, DEDAR Bouclé, Handmade by Greenapple
By Rute Martins, Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Mid-Century Modern Twins Chaise Longue, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Twins chaise longue and its matching...
Leather, Bouclé, Cotton, Velvet, Wood, Mohair, Linen, Oak, Walnut
$15,256
H 38.59 in W 64.57 in D 27.56 in
Kerstin Horlin-Holmquist Garden of Eden / Lustgarden Chaise Longue Daybed, 1950s
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Kerstin Horlin Holmquist
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist Garden of Eden (Lustgarden) chaise longue or daybed. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniets, Sweden, 1958. Newly reupholstered in green velvet.
Fabric, Beech
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
$5,383
H 37.8 in W 55.91 in D 27.56 in
Vintage Cognac Leather Chaise Longue by Tord Bjorklund Sweden, 1970
By Tord Bjorklund
Located in Vienna, AT
This vintage chaise longue by Tord Bjorklund, 1970 Sweden, combines comfort and timeless design. The upholstery of the chaise longue wa...
Metal
Spy 664 Beige Chaise Longue by Emilio Nanni
By Billiani 1911, Cristina Celestino
Located in Milan, IT
Nothing invites more to enjoy moments of pure relaxation than a refined, plush chaise longue. Perfect as an addition to luxe, residential decors, this exquisite design features a solid beech frame tinted in a vibrant curry hue sustaining the generously padded resting area...
Wood, Textile, Beech
$240,000
H 27 in W 63 in D 22.5 in
Charlotte Perriand, Chaise longue basculante, B306 Lounge Chair, France, 1930s
By Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret
Located in New York, NY
This iconic model designed by the young Charlotte Perriand, together with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, was manufactured by Thonet-France from 1930 to 1937 and sold under the re...
Copper, Steel
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
MCR Chaise Longue By André Fu Living
By André Fu
Located in Admiralty, HK
a contemporary chaise longue that evokes a sense of fluid movement. inspired by the organic profiles of dance movement, its curated form captures the language of mid century designs....
Fabric, Ash
Rare 'Whist' Chaise Longue in Black Leather by Olivier Mourgue
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. Only 10 pieces were produced of...
Steel
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
Sold
H 24.81 in W 68.9 in D 23.63 in
Olivier Mourgue Djinn Chaise Lounge for Airborne in Beautiful Pierre Frey Fabric
By Olivier Mourgue, Artifort
Located in ŁÓDŹ, PL
This 'Djinn' chaise longue by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne International is stunning. It was produced in France between 1964 and 1965. This chaise longue 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. This epic piece of modernism from the Mid-20th Century is as beautiful as it is comfortable and will surely become a favourite piece of furniture in your living room. Condition: Excellent,Reupholstered, This Djinn chaise longue has new stripes, foam and newly upholstered in fluffy wool with blend of mohair and alpaca which is produced by one of the most luxurious fabric manufacturers in the world, Pierre Frey. The whole rest on a tubular steel frame. Dimensions: Width: 175 cm / 68.9 in. Depth: 60 cm / 23.63 in. Height: 63 cm / 24.81 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
Chaise Longue Designed By Olivier Mourgue, France 1960's
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Stockholm, SE
Chaise longue designed by Olivier Mourgue, France. "Djinn relaxer" designed in 1965. Recently reupholstered in a "Kvadrat" wool fabric.
Fabric