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.
Mid-Century Space Age French Chrome and Glass Joker Coffee Side Table, 1960s
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Hamburg, DE
Chrome and glass Coffee Table from the French manufacturer Airborne according to a design by Olivier Mourgue from the 1960s. The right table to the well -known Joker Lounge Chair. A...
Metal
Space Age Steelcase Side Table by William Andrus Mid-Century Modern
By Steelcase
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Gorgeous Space Age side table from soft seating series designed by William Andrus for Steelcase. This example is in good original condition, some minor scuffs and dings.
Glass, Fiberglass, Lucite
Space age bottle holder, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Vintage space age bottle holder side table with an organe and black plastic top and chromed base. Cool decorative piece. 1960s - Belgium Good overall condition Dimensions: Height...
Chrome
$369Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in Dm 15.36 in
Midcentury Space Age Side Table Artemide, design Emma Gismondi, Italy, 1960s
By Artemide, Emma Gismondi Schweinberger
Located in Praha, CZ
- very practical - model Giano - Giano Vano - Emma Gismondi Schweinberger for Artmide Milano
Plastic
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Metal and Glass Coffee Table 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid-Century Modern vintage chromed metal and glass coffee table / side table with a greenish glass top. Three curved metal feet con...
Metal
$1,780
H 16.54 in Dm 43.31 in
Space Age Vintage Chromed Metal Smoked Glass Coffee Table, 1970s, Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage coffee table from chromed metal and smoked glass 1970s Germany. While the chromed metal base shows a beautiful curved construction, the smoked glass top features r...
Metal
$2,550
H 24.5 in W 24.5 in D 24.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Side Table, Chrome and Glass, French Design, 1960
Located in Austin, TX
Side table from France made of chromed steel with a square sectioned structure with clear glass top shelf and mirrored bottom shelf. This piece is supported by casters. We love the m...
Brass, Steel
$1,335Sale Price|25% Off
H 14.97 in Dm 35.44 in
1970s Space Age Round Coffee Table with Smoked Glass & Chrome
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Space Age Round Coffee Table, Smoked Glass & Chrome, Italy, 1970s Crafted in Italy during the 1970s, the table embodies the pure essence of Space Age design. Featuring a sleek c...
Chrome
$1,305
H 14.97 in W 35.44 in D 14.18 in
Mid-Century Rectangular Rattan and Bamboo Coffee Side Table, Italy, 1960s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Rome, IT
Mid-century rectangular coffee table in bamboo and rattan in the style of Vivai Del Sud. Made in Italy in the 1960s.
Bamboo, Rattan
$2,405
H 23.63 in W 20.48 in D 15.36 in
Mid-Century Modern Atomic Space Age Chrome Glass & Marble Side End Lamp Table
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning, Mid-Century Modern, Atomic Space Age, chrome side table with etched glass tops and thick marble bases A very good looking and we...
Marble, Chrome
$600Sale Price|20% Off
H 21 in W 30 in D 24 in
1960s Mid-Century Marble and Chrome Side Table with Satin Finish
Located in Wainscott, NY
Mid-20th century marble and chrome side table, circa 1960s. Honed marble-top has light grey veining and the tubular chrome legs are in a satin finish. Dimensions: 30" W x 24" D x 2...
Marble, Chrome
$617Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.15 in W 20.08 in D 12.21 in
Mid-century French Ceramic and Metal Side Table, 1960s
By Roger Capron
Located in LEGNY, FR
Small vintage side table from the 60s in the style of Roger Capron. Black metal base and half orange ceramic tile top and black stone effect ...
Metal
Space Age Vintage Steel and Smoked Glass Coffee Table, 1970s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Space Age vintage coffee table in chromed metal and smoked glass from the 70s. While the chromed metal base displays a beautiful curved construction, the smoked glass tops feature a ...
Steel
Olivier Mourgue Minimalist Textured Crystal Glass Desk
By Cassina, Olivier Mourgue
Located in Dronten, NL
Graceful compact desk designed by French designer Olivier Mourgue. Unique example executed with a shortened textured crystal top manufactured by Cassina for the Le Corbusier LC6 table...
Crystal, Steel, Chrome
Vintage “Djinn” desk by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
Desk from the "Djinn" series designed by Olivier Mourgue and published by Airborne in the 1970s. Smoked glass top placed on a pair of trestles with polished brushed metal legs. Dimen...
Iron
Joker Coffee Table by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, 1960s
By Airborne International, Olivier Mourgue
Located in Uppsala, SE
Joker table designed by French designer Olivier Mourgue for his longtime collaborator Airborne in the 1960s. Square glass top on a chrome-plated metal base with rubber shock mounts b...
Metal, Chrome