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.
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 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
$4,800 / item
Olivier Morgue Djinn Sofa
By Airborne International, Olivier Mourgue
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
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
$9,713 / set
H 37.41 in W 83.47 in D 33.47 in
Set of 3 Vintage Sofa and Armchairs by Pierre Guariche from Airborne, 1960s
Located in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, FR
Set of 3 Vintage Sofa and Armchairs by Pierre Guariche from Airborne, 1960s Vintage Design A living room set including a sofa and two design armchairs from the 1960s by Pierre Guari...
Fabric
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
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 Belgian Style Slip Covered Sofa in 100% Linen
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Olivier Sofa Slip Covered Shown in Heavy Oyster White Belgian Linen A timeless silhouette with tailored lines and softly flared arms, the Olivier Sofa is a relaxed yet refined class...
Cotton, Linen, Wood, Down
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" 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
Olivier Belgian Style Slip Covered Sofa in 100% Linen
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Olivier Sofa Slip Covered Shown in Heavy Oyster White Belgian Linen A timeless silhouette with tailored lines and softly flared arms, the Olivier Sofa is a relaxed yet refined class...
Cotton, Linen, Wood, Down
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” lounge chair. 1960s.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Olivier Mourgue for Airborn “Djinn” chaise longue, ergonomically designed and upholstered in chocolate-colored fabric. French design, made in the 1960s. Dimensions: H 69 x W 185 ...
Fabric
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
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
20th Century, Olivier Mourgue Lounge Chair mod. Tjinn
By Olivier Mourgue, Airborne International
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
Sold
H 26.78 in W 49.22 in D 27.96 in
Djinn 2-seater sofa in creme bouclé by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, 1970s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in amstelveen, NL
Djinn 2-seater sofa by Olivier Mourque. Reupholstered in a stunning cream bouclé. The Djinn sofa is one element of a series of Djinn furniture designed by noted French designer Oliv...
Bouclé
Sold
H 26.38 in W 49.22 in D 30.32 in
Olivier Mourgue 1960s "Djinn" Loveseat in New Fluffy Alpaca Pierre Frey Fabric
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Hitchin, England
A Rare Olivier Mourgue "Djinn" 2-Seat Loveseat in new fluffy Alpaca Pierre Frey Fabric, France, 1960s. A highly in-demand & hard-to-find Olivier Mourgue "Djinn" 2-Seat Loveseat ne...
Metal
Olivier Mourgue Sofa "Djinn" in White Bouclé
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful sofa of the "Djinn" model designed in the 70s by the French designer Olivier Mourgue, fine French manufacture. The sofa is typically Space Age designed for two seats, char...
Bouclé
Olivier Mourgue “Djinn” Settee for Airborne, Circa 1964
By Olivier Mourgue, Airborne International
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Olivier Mourgue “Djinn” settee sofa for Airborne, Circa 1964. This piece has been expertly restored in Kvadrat fabric.
Steel
Sold
H 26.78 in W 49.22 in D 30.32 in
Rare Djinn Sofa by Olivier Mourgue, New 100% Wool Boucle Fabric, France, 1960s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Rare Djinn sofa by Olivier Mourgue, France, manufactured by Airborne International, circa 1965. Early edition newly upholstered in high quality 100% wool Lelievre Lama Naturel boucle...
Metal
20th Century Red Djinn Sofa by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne
By Olivier Mourgue, Airborne International
Located in Paris, FR
Two-seat vintage Djinn sofa designed by Olivier Mourgue in 1965 for Airborne. Metal structure lined with foam and covered with red fabric from the publisher Kvadrat. Steel skates. Th...
Metal
Djinn Sofa by Olivier Mourgue, 2001: A Space Odyssey
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Paris, FR
A Djinn two-seat sofain steel recovered with beige fabric, an U-shaped back forms the arms. Design by Olivier Mourgue, in 1967. Very good general condition, with some wears. Original...
Metal
Djinn Sofa designed by Olivier Mourgue, France, 1965
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Stockholm, SE
Djinn Sofa designed by Olivier Mourgue, France,1965 Recently reupholstered in a "Kvadrat" wool fabric. Designed in 1965 and are well-known from the mo...
Wool
Djinn Chair designed by Olivier Mourgue, France, 1965
By Olivier Mourgue, Airborne International
Located in Stockholm, SE
Djinn chair designed by Olivier Mourgue, France, 1960's Recently reupholstered in a "Kvadrat" wool fabric. Designed in 1965 and are well-known from t...
Wool