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.
Gubi Tropique Outdoor Armchair in White Base, Strip Beige by Mathieu Matégot
By Gubi, Mathieu Matégot
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created in the 1950s by the Hungarian-born French master of postwar design, Mathieu Matégot, the Tropique Collection of outdoor furniture captures the timeless glamour and exotic lux...
Stainless Steel
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brass and White Umbrella Stand Mathieu Mategot France
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage brass and white metal umbrella stand designed by Mathieu Mategot and executed by Atelier Mategot, 1950s. A charming umbrella stand made from perforated wh...
Metal, Brass
$1,499 / item
Gubi Satellite Outdoor Floor Lamp by Mathieu Mategot
By Gubi, Mathieu Matégot
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
Coffee Table / Magazine Rack “java”, Mathieu Mategot, 1955
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in MOUGINS, FR
Coffee table / magazine rack, "Java" model, circa 1955, top in "rigitulle" lacquered in light yellow-green, bordered by a square section gallery, lacquered tubular base, copper sabot...
Metal, Sheet Metal
2024 Pair of Mathieu Mategot for GUBI Tropique Dining Chairs with Fringes
By Gubi, Mathieu Matégot
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Tropique Dining Chairs, originally designed by Mathieu Mategot for GUBI in 1951. These particular examples were produced in Denmark in 2024. Their frames are compri...
Steel
Customizable Gubi Copacabana Lounge Chair by Mathieu Matégot
By Gubi, Mathieu Matégot
Located in New York, NY
The Copacabana lounge chair was created in 1955 by Mathieu Matégot. The low Copacabana Lounge Chair has the impression of being designed with a...
Metal
$1,049 / item
Gubi Satellite Outdoor Pendant by Mathieu Mategot
By Gubi, Mathieu Matégot
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
$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
$3,073Sale Price|25% Off
Mathieu Matégot White Metal Magazine Holder, Mid-Century Modern, 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Magazine holder, designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Ateliers Matégot (France), circa 1950. Folded, perforated metal. In good condition, with minor wear consistent with age...
Metal
$1,756
Porte-plantes
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Paris, FR
Wrought iron plant stand
Wrought Iron
$526Sale 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
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
$857Sale Price|25% Off
Mathieu Matégot Enameled Metal Plate, Mid-Century Modern, France, 32cm
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Enameled metal plate designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Artimeta (Holland), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal, seem to be repainted many years ago. In great original ...
Metal
2024 Mathieu Mategot for GUBI Tropique Dining Table in Classic White Semi Matte
By Gubi, Mathieu Matégot
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
$1,439 / item
Satellite Pendant Large Black
By Gubi, Mathieu Matégot
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
$1,580Sale Price|25% Off
Mathieu Matégot Black Lacquered Metal Magazine Holder, circa 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Magazine holder, designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by ateliers Matégot (France), circa 1950. Folded, perforated metal. In good original condition, with minor wear consistent...
Metal
Chambord plate by Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Plateau dit chambord par Mathieu Matégot, laqué jaune, d’origine.
Metal
$746Sale Price|25% Off
Mathieu Matégot Enameled Metal Plate, Mid-Century Modern, France, 36"
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Enameled metal plate designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Artimeta (Holland), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal, seem to be repainted many years ago. In great original ...
Metal
$702Sale Price|25% Off
Mathieu Matégot Mid-Century Modern Enameled Metal Plate, Atelier Matégot, 1950s
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Enameled metal plate designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Atelier Matégot (France), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal, seem to be repainted many years ago. In great ori...
Metal
$965Sale Price|25% Off
Mathieu Matégot Enameled Metal Plate, Mid-Century Modern, 39 cm
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Enameled metal plate designed by Mathieu Matégot. By unknown manufacturer, circa 1950. In great original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautif...
Metal
$3,629
Table d'appoint
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Paris, FR
wrought iron side table
Wrought Iron
$526Sale Price|25% Off
Mathieu Matégot Enameled Metal Plate, Mid-Century Modern, France, 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Enameled metal plate designed by Mathieu Mate´got. Manufactured by Artimeta (Holland), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal with original paint. In great original condition, with ...
Metal
Étagère clé de sol par Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Étagère clé de Sol par Mathieu Matégot, rare en cette version de couleur. Couleur d’origine.
Metal
$3,629
Table
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Paris, FR
Wrought iron table
Wrought Iron
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
Mid-Century Mathieu Matégot Metal Black and White Bookstand for Artimeta, 1956
By Mathieu Matégot, Artimeta, 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
Wrought Iron Side Table by Mathieu Matégot, Mid-Century, France
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Wrought iron table by Mathieu Matégot (1910 - 2001). Diabolo shape base and glass top. Argus Valentine's (2003) "20ème Siècle - Les Principales Antiquités Des Années 1880-2000" p. ...
Iron