With their curvaceous metal surfaces and shapes often resembling sheets of folded paper, Mathieu Matégot's inspiring furniture and lighting designs are easily recognizable and highly sought after by collectors. By working with perforated sheet metal and metal tubing, the Hungarian-born French architect, artist and designer — who is known by aficionados for his “rigitulle” technique — created tables, chairs and decorative objects that are celebrated works of French modernism and make a statement in any interior.
Matégot attended the Budapest School of Fine Arts and Architecture. He graduated in 1929 and traveled before settling in Paris in 1931, where he worked as a window dresser for department stores and as a set designer for cabaret halls.
In 1939, Matégot joined the French army in resistance to invading Nazi forces. He was soon captured and sent to work in a German factory. It was at this factory where Matégot became familiar with the materials and techniques that would inform and inspire his trademark rigitulle method.
After the war ended, Matégot opened a workshop in Paris and began to create handcrafted furniture that didn't conform to established styles of the time. Matégot explored merging traditional and non-traditional materials — he worked with formica, glass and natural materials such as rattan — and engaged in other forward-looking experiments. Matégot soon patented his career-defining rigitulle technique and material, which saw the designer working with metal tubing and perforated metal sheets and producing thin, airy folds into the metal as if he were manipulating fabric or paper.
Many of Matégot’s designs for table lamps, pendants, tables and more are reflective of the rigitulle technique, but the best-known work that exemplifies this process is his elegant three-legged Nagasaki chair, which he exhibited in 1954 at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs. The original Nagasaki chair gave way to a collection that included a stool and an armchair. Matégot’s Nagasaki dining chair has been reissued by Gubi and is part of the permanent collection at the Vitra Design Museum, which is home to one of the world’s most important furniture collections.
Matégot created a range of smaller items for the home — serveware, side tables and magazine racks, each distinctive in their fluid and organic forms — but halted his career in design and moved to Angers in the early 1960s in order to turn to creating art. Today he is known for his abstract tapestries as well as his furnishings.
Find vintage Mathieu Matégot furniture on 1stDibs.
Mathieu Matégot Wicker and Iron Magazine Rack
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mathieu Matégot wicker and iron magazine rack Hand woven handle Signature perforated metal detail Sculptural design Natural color variations in the ...
Iron
$1,499 / item
Gubi Satellite Outdoor Floor Lamp by Mathieu Mategot
By Mathieu Matégot, Gubi
Located in New York, NY
Building on the Satellite Collection of whimsical, modernist sculptural lamps, the Satellite Outdoor Pendant and Satellite Outdoor Floor Lamp are G...
Aluminum
Set of Three Original Mathieu Matégot Dishes or Platters
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Berlin, DE
Nice matched Matégot vintage set in vintage condition. Mathieu Matégot (1910-2001) was a Hungarian-born French designer and artist. He is known for his innovative use of metal tubin...
Metal
$1,287Sale Price / set|64% Off
Vintage Set of Four Attributed to Mathieu Matégot Dining Chairs, France, 1950s
By Mathieu Matégot, Mathieu Matégot
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Striking set of four vintage dining chairs attributed to Mathieu Matégot in his trademark perforated and lacquered sheet steel. Wonderful lightness to these, masterful use of steel e...
Steel
Mathieu Matégot Mid-Century Modern Fruit Black Plate, circa 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Enameled metal Plate designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Artimeta (Holland), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal with original paint. In great original condition, with m...
Metal
Mid-Century 1954 Vintage Mathieu Matégot Santiago Armchair
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in London, GB
Mathieu Matégot was a Hungarian designer renowned for his innovative use of multiple industrial materials such as wood, leather and metal. For the Santiago chair designed in 1954, he...
Metal, Sheet Metal
Mid-Century Mathieu Matégot Metal Black and White Bookstand for Artimeta, 1956
By Artimeta, Mathieu Matégot, Tomado
Located in DE MEERN, NL
Vintage Magazine Holder by Mathieu Matégot for Artimeta, France 1950 Introduce timeless elegance into your living space with this exquisite Vintage Magazine Holder designed by the r...
Metal, Sheet Metal
Mathieu Matégot Perforated Tray
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Stockton, NJ
A Mathieu Matégot metal perforated tray. This rare example includes thick brass banding.
Metal, Brass
$1,049 / item
Gubi Satellite Outdoor Pendant by Mathieu Mategot
By Mathieu Matégot, Gubi
Located in New York, NY
Building on the Satellite Collection of whimsical, modernist sculptural lamps, the Satellite Outdoor Pendant and Satellite Outdoor Floor Lamp are GUBI...
Aluminum
Scarce coffee table by Mathieu Matégot in leather and brass
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Rare table basse par Mathieu Matégot de sa serie en cuir piqué sellier, partie méconnue de son travail mais toutefois d’une grande qualité.
Brass
Mathieu Matégot, dining table, MASTERPIECE
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Dining table in metal sheathed in black leather stitched sellier and glass top, 1958. This unique piece (1958) was commissioned for the apartment of a Parisian doctor, friend of Mat...
Metal
Customizable Gubi Satellite Outdoor Pendant by Mathieu Mategot
By Mathieu Matégot, Gubi
Located in New York, NY
Building on the Satellite Collection of whimsical, modernist sculptural lamps, the Satellite Outdoor Pendant and Satellite Outdoor Floor Lamp are GUBI...
Aluminum
Matégot Bookshelf Jardinière Library
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in London, GB
Matégot is perhaps the last and most important metalsmith of the French after war era. Had incredible originality in his design. Always very poetic in his realization. Time to collec...
Steel
Ateliers Mathieu Matégot Triple Plant Stand Jardiniere Flower Stand Cache Pot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in London, GB
Triple plant stand in yellow and black metal expanded. Manufactured by "Les Ateliers Matégot". Documented
Steel
French Midcentury Mathieu Matégot 'Tube' Perforated Steel Chair
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in London, GB
Sold separately. A set of four welded and perforated steel ‘Tube’ chairs by Mathieu Matégot (1910-2001), recently finished in a satin black. French,...
Steel
$1,199 / item
Satellite Pendant, Medium, White
By Mathieu Matégot, Gubi
Located in Berkeley, CA
The Satellite Pendant of two sizes is designed by Mathieu Matégot in 1953 with geometrical shapes and an organic shade to create outstanding sculptur...
Metal
$1,439 / item
Satellite Pendant, Large, White
By Mathieu Matégot, Gubi
Located in Berkeley, CA
The Satellite Pendant of two sizes is designed by Mathieu Matégot in 1953 with geometrical shapes and an organic shade to create outstanding sculptur...
Metal
$3,421
Table d'appoint
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Paris, FR
wrought iron side table
Wrought Iron
$1,449
Porte-plantes
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Paris, FR
Wrought iron plant stand
Wrought Iron
2024 Mathieu Mategot for GUBI Tropique Dining Table in Classic White Semi Matte
By Mathieu Matégot, Gubi
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Tropique Dining Table, originally designed by Mathieu Mategot in 1954. This particular example was produced by GUBI in Denmark in 2024. The table's design is comprised of s...
Steel
$521Sale Price|45% Off
Mathieu Matégot "Wicker" Chair Made with Iron and Natural Fiber, France, 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Madrid, ES
"Wicker" chairs by Mathieu Matégot, painted yellow with lacquered iron structure in black and natural fiber seat.
Iron
1950 Magazine Rack in Metal After M. Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Marseille, FR
Magazine rack 1950 in perforated metal, cream lacquered after Matthieu Matégot. Dimension height 64 cm for a length of 43 cm and a depth of 26 cm. ...
Wrought Iron
Mathieu Mategot, Serving Cart, Tea Trolley, Lacquered black metal, France, 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mathieu Mategot (1910-2001). Serving cart Manufactured by Atelier Mategot. France, 1950s. Lacquered and perforated metal. Measurements 55 x 40 cm x 63.5 H cm. 21.65 in x 15.74 in x 25H in. Literature Philippe Jousse...
Metal