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 Mategot Aubusson Tapestry
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in New York, NY
Mathieu Mategot abstract Aubusson Tapestry woven by Atelier Tabard Freres & Soeurs. Known as a French furniture designer he devoted his work full time to tapestries in the 1960s beco...
Wool
$18,239Sale Price|20% Off
1960's Signed Mathieu Matégot Abstract Tapestry, Highly Coveted 1st Piece 1/6
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Dallas, TX
78078 Vintage Mathieu Mategot Abstract French Aubusson Tapestry, 04'07 x 08'00. This handwoven wool tapestry by renowned Hungarian-French artist Mathieu Matégot is a masterful blend ...
Wool
Nice Antique French Aubusson tapestry «landscape »
By Aubusson Manufacture
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Mid-20th Century Aubusson Tapestry – Handwoven Wool & Silk Beautiful mid-20th century Aubusson tapestry, finely handwoven in wool and silk, depicting a charming pastoral woodland la...
Wool, Silk
Nice French Aubusson Style Jacquard Tapestry
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
"Exquisite French tapestry from the mid-20th century, featuring a beautiful design, showing a gallant scene with young people playing hide and seek game, with nice colours in hues of...
Wool, Cotton
Bobyrug’s Wonderful Antique French Aubusson Tapestry
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful mid century original French Aubusson tapestry with nice romantic design and beautiful colors, entirely hand woven with wool a...
Wool, Silk
Nice Antique French Aubusson tapestry «landscape»
By Aubusson Manufacture
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Early 20th Century Aubusson Tapestry – Pastoral Landscape with Floral Border A beautiful Aubusson tapestry featuring a richly detailed pastoral landscape in warm, earthy tones. The...
Wool, Silk
$3,909Sale Price|20% Off
W 75.2 in L 57.09 in
VINTAGE Scandinavian Tapestry Flatwoven European Kilim 145x191cm Signed 5x6 Rug
Located in New York, NY
Vintage European Kilim Flatwoven Rug Flatwoven Kelim Rug Handmade Tapestry "This is a beautiful European kilim Rug. This magnificent flatwoven rug and t...
Wool
$980Sale Price|20% Off
H 51.58 in W 22.05 in D 0.3 in
1960 Vintage Art Nouveau Tapestry Abstract Fish Handwoven 2x4
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage handwoven tapestry featuring a unique abstract Art Nouveau design with a rich and dynamic color palette. This circa 1950 piece showcases artistic geometric elemen...
Wool
$1,960Sale Price|20% Off
H 50.01 in W 25.99 in D 0.3 in
1960 Vintage Art Nouveau Tapestry Abstract Fish Handwoven 2x4
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Art Nouveau Tapestry Abstract Fish Handwoven "This is a beautiful vintage handwoven tapestry featuring a unique abstract fish design with artistic Art Nouveau influence. The...
Wool
Le Remailleur De Filet - Tapestry by Robert Debieve
By Robert Debieve
Located in Sagaponack, NY
"Le Remailleur De Filet" a vivid framed modernist tapestry of a fisherman repairing his nets by the French painter Debiève. Created by Corot 05, Champs Elysées, Paris, circa 1950.
Silk
16th Century Flemish Tapestry
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A magnificent Biblical tapestry in wool and silk likely made in the Flemish weaving center of Oudenaarde. With a history of tapestry production dating to 1368, the city created some of the finest tapestries of late Medieval and Renaissance Europe that were widely sought after across the continent. The 16th century...
Wool, Silk
Pretty antique french Aubusson tapestry
By Royal Manufacture of Aubusson
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful antique French Aubusson tapestry featuring a view of a woman showing a bird in the nature in the woods. With nice natural colours in the hues of yellow, green, pink, o...
Wool, Silk
$13,224Sale Price|20% Off
H 82 in W 101 in D 101 in
Antique French Tapestry Art Nouveau Antique Tapestry 208cm x 257cm 7'x9' c.1920
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful antique French tapestry depicting a scenic view including magnificent art nouveau motifs, beautiful trees, and greenery. A chic, neutral antique piece to add elegance to an...
Wool
Pretty Vintage Aubusson Style Jacquard Tapestry
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
"Exquisite late 20th-century French tapestry featuring the enchanting design 'VERDURE AU MOULIN' after François Boucher. Capturing nature in its most picturesque form, adorned with p...
Wool, Cotton
Antique French Aubusson Verdure Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
77764, antique French Verdure tapestry. This hand-woven antique French Aubusson verdure tapestry depicts a landscape scene of the French countryside. ...
Wool
$2,986Sale Price|20% Off
W 43.31 in L 45.28 in
Vintage European Kilim Flatwoven Rug Signed Handmade Tapestry Art Nouveau Rug
Located in New York, NY
This is a beautiful Vintage European Tapestry, artist signed by JC Bisery, featuring a distinctive Art Nouveau design with bold florals and strong artistic character. This magnificen...
Wool
Beautiful Antique Needlepoint Tapestry
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice late 19th century French needlepoint tapestry fragment, originally made for chair cover, with a beautiful decorative design and beautiful col...
Wool
Mathieu Matégot "Nocturne" Abstract Wool Tapestry, circa 1970
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in San Francisco, CA
Mathieu Matégot "Nocturne" handwoven abstract wool tapestry, circa 1970 Mathieu Matégot (April 1910-February 2001) was a Hungarian / French designer and material artist. He was on...
Wool
'Karikal', a modernist wool tapestry by Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Milan, IT
Mathieu Matégot (1910-2001) was one of the most celebrated French designers of the 1950's. After the Second World War he established a workshop in Paris (later relocating to Casablan...
Mathieu Mategot Tapestry "Nocturnus"
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in New York, NY
Tapestry entitled "Nocturnus" designed by French designer and textile artist Mathieu Mategot, woven by Pinton Freres, Aubusson, c. 1960. Edition of six. 97" x 50". Woven signatures ...
Wool