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 Enameled Metal Bowl, Gubi, Mid-Century Modern, France
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Enameled metal bowl designed by Mathieu Matégot, circa 1953. Reedition by Gubi. Mathieu Matégot designed his contemporary Matégot bowl in 1953. The characteristic appearance of th...
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
Pair of Mathieu Matégot Rigitulle Perforated Metal Nesting Trays, France, 1950s
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Pasadena, CA
A pair of round nesting trays attributed to Mathieu Matégot, crafted in perforated sheet metal using the designer’s signature “Rigitulle” technique. Each tray features a shallow, ge...
Metal
Black Round Metal Tray Designed by Mathieu Matégot, France, 1950s
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Den Haag, NL
Black metal Tray designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Ateliers Matégot, France, circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal
Metal
Mathieu Matégot Enameled Metal Tray with Rattan Design, France, 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Enameled metal tray designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Ateliers Matégot (France), circa 1950. Dark Blue - Black Lacquered perforated metal with original paint and rattan de...
Metal
Round Black Metal Tray Designed by Mathieu Matégot, France, 1950s
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Den Haag, NL
Black metal tray designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Ateliers Matégot, France, circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal.
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
Set of 3 Midcentury Mategot Trays with Brass Rims
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in London, GB
Set of 3 perforated metal trays, in original paint with brass rims. By Mathieu Matégot, circa 1950. Largest: 58 x 39cm.
Metal, Brass
$153 / item
H 1.78 in W 13.59 in D 19.3 in
Les Ottomans "The Peacock Design" Oval Iron Tray by Matthew Williamson
By Matthew Williamson, Les Ottomans
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Renowned British designer Matthew Williamson, known for his bold use of colour and nature-inspired motifs, has created a tabletop and textile collection with Les Ottomans. This colla...
Iron
$113 / item
H 1.97 in W 13 in D 8.27 in
Les Ottomans "The Peacock Design" Rectangular Iron Tray by Matthew Williamson
By Les Ottomans, Matthew Williamson
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Renowned British designer Matthew Williamson, known for his bold use of colour and nature-inspired motifs, has created a tabletop and textile collection with Les Ottomans. This colla...
Iron
$2,400 / item
H 1 in W 25.25 in D 16.25 in
Rectangular Tray, Mediterranean Design by Robert Kuo, Handmade Cloisonne
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rectangular tray Mediterranean design Shades of blue Glass enamel Gold plated copper Cloisonné Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. The cloison...
Copper, Enamel
$153 / item
H 1.78 in Dm 15.75 in
Les Ottomans "The Peacock Design" Round Iron Tray by Matthew Williamson
By Matthew Williamson, Les Ottomans
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Renowned British designer Matthew Williamson, known for his bold use of colour and nature-inspired motifs, has created a tabletop and textile collection with Les Ottomans. This colla...
Iron
Mathieu Matégot Mid-Century Modern, Enameled Metal Basket, circa 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Enameled metal basket designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Ateliers Matégot (France,) circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal, it has some traces of rust. In original condi...
Metal
French Vallauris Majolica Ceramic Cheese Serving Tray, 1950s
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cool round shaped woven motif ceramic platter for cheese of desserts, France, 1950s. This beautiful platter features a circular base with woven pattern. A handle at the central part ...
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery, Bamboo
Mathieu Matégot Mid-Century Modern, Enameled Metal Basket, circa 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Enameled metal basket designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Ateliers Matégot (France,) circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal, it has some traces of rust. In original condi...
Metal
$225
H 0.75 in W 17 in D 15 in
Gorgeous Hollywood Regency Enameled Finish Large Round Tray by Moire Glaze Kyes
By Kyes Company
Located in San Diego, CA
Step into the glamour of Hollywood Regency with this exquisite round metal tray, a true gem from the 1960s handcrafted by the renowned artisan Moire Glaze Kyes in sunny California. T...
Metal, Enamel
Modernist Glass Plate by Higgins
By Higgins Glass
Located in New York, NY
Large glass plate, or charger, by recognized midcentury master Higgins (Michael and Francis). Nice clean signed example, free of damage or condition ...
Art Glass
$626
H 2.17 in W 14.97 in D 11.42 in
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Plate by Etienne Daniel, French Vallauris, 1950s
By Robert Picault
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Plate by Etienne Daniel, French Vallauris, 1950s Large dish enamelled in white, green and brown tones adorned with stylized...
Enamel
Mathieu Matégot Mid-Century Modern Red Enameled Metal Plate, circa 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Enameled metal plate designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Artimeta (Holland), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal, seem to be repainted many years ago. In good original c...
Metal
Vintage Fornasetti Panel by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, 1950s
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Panel realized by Piero Fornasetti in 1950s. Screen print on wood. Brass frame. Covered with glass. Most probably a unique specimen, realized in 1950s for Sartoria Fanucchi...
Metal, Brass
Original French Metal Tray "Rigituelle" in Style of Mathieu Mategot, 1960s
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Metal tray. In style of Mathieu Mategot. Origin: France, 1960s. This original vintage tray element was produced in the 1960s i...
Metal
$854
H 1.19 in W 19.69 in D 11.82 in
Mathieu Matégot Enameled Metal Tray, Mid-Century Modern, France, 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Enameled metal tray designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Ateliers Matégot (France), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal with original paint. In good original condition, w...
Metal
Mid-Century French Ceramic Bowl Robert Picault Vallauris
By Robert Picault
Located in Austin, TX
Mid-Century French Ceramic Bowl signed Robert Picault Vallauris.
Ceramic, Faience
Serving Tray by Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This white metal tray was designed by Mathieu Matégot in the 1950s. The metalwork displays the hallmarks of Matégot’s style. The metal sheet is accentuated by decorative perforation...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Metal Trays by Mathieu Matégot, France, 1955
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in London, GB
A pair of original pierced white painted metal trays by Mathieu Mategot c.1955. Original paint. Some minor rust marks and dents.
Metal
Mathieu Mategot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in London, GB
A French 1950’s pierced metal round tray by Mathieu Mategot. Original paint. Minor paint loss and some rust marks.
Metal
Mathieu Mategot pierced metal tray c.1950’s
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in London, GB
A large black pierced metal tray by Mathieu Mategot. Some paint loss and minor rust marks.
Metal
Large Mathieu Mategot Red Enameled Perforated Metal Serving Tray
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Mathieu Mategot red enameled perforated sheet metal serving tray with curved frame and decorative wire handles. In original condition with beautiful patina and visible wear, in...
Metal
Sold
H 1.25 in W 21.5 in D 13.625 in
Mathieu Mategot Black Perforated Metal Serving Tray with Rolled Edge Frame
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mathieu Mategot black perforated sheet metal serving tray with rounded rolled edged frame. In original condition with a nice patina. The tray has visible wear, including scratching a...
Sheet Metal
Mathieu Matégot Enameled Metal Gubi Bowl
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Enameled metal bowl designed by Mathieu Matégot, circa 1953. Reedition by Gubi. Mathieu Matégot designed his contemporary Matégot bowl in 1953. The characteristic appearance of th...
Metal
Large Mathieu Matégot Metal Plate or Platter, circa 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Berlin, DE
Manufactured by Artimeta (Holland), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal with original paint. In vintage original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving...
Metal
Mathieu Matégot Mid Century Steel Bar Cart
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Calgary, Alberta
French Mid Century Mathieu Matégot stylish perforated mesh steel bar cart with removable trays on the top and bottom. Matégot was the creator of the pioneering and innovative Rigi...
Steel
Mathieu Mategot White Pierced Metal Tray, French, c.1955
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in London, GB
A good rare example of a round pierced metal tray/ serving platter by the French designer Mathieu Mategot. Highly collectable and sought after.
Metal
Mathieu Matégot Enameled Metal Plate, circa 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Enameled metal plate designed by Mathieu Mate´got. Manufactured by Artimeta (Holland), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal with original paint. In great original condition wi...
Metal
Mathieu Matégot Enameled Metal Plate, circa 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Enameled metal plate designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Artimeta (Holland), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal with original paint. In great original condition wit...
Metal
Mathieu Mategot Perforated White Metal Tray
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in New York, NY
French Modernist perforated tray with metal banding around perimeter and sinuous handles. Worn center. We will leave it to you to decide whether to rep...
Metal
Mathieu Mategot Black Perforated Metal Tray
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in New York, NY
French mid century black enameled perforated serving tray with a brass rim.
Metal, Brass
Large Perforated Metal Tray by Mathieu Matégot, France, 1950s
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in La Teste-de-Buch, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Large perforated metal serving tray by Mathieu Matégot Made in France in the 1950s Scarce in this dimension Literature: "Mathieu Mategot" Jousse Archive section.
Metal