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.
Round Black French Mid Century "Bellevue" Sofa Side Table by Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare round and decorative French mid century "Bellevue" side sofa table in black lacquered metal with a glass top designed by Mathieu Matégot and produced in France in 1950s. In go...
Metal
Coffe Table , 1930 , France, Design: Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Chrome, Iron
On Hold|$1,149
H 16.93 in W 22.05 in D 10.24 in
Black 20th century design low sofa table att. to Mathieu Matégot circa 1960
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Attributed to Mathieu Matégot 20th century design black metal low sofa table Very good condition Black painting and brass foot base Height 43 cm Longer 56 cm Large 26 cm
Metal
$912 / item
H 12.21 in Dm 32.68 in
Palafitte Coffe Table, in Canaletto Walnut, by DebonaDemeo for Medulum
By Debonademeo
Located in Meolo, Venezia
The Palafitte collection, inspired by Venice, the floating city, takes its cue from the urban system of wooden poles submerged in water, supporting the city’s structures. This design...
Walnut, Wood
Italian Design Coffee Table, 1970s
By Zanotta, Marco Zanuso
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
This is a beautiful and sophisticated piece of 20th-century furniture. 1970s Italian design is distinctive and evident in this rectangular coffee table. Made with minimalist cylindr...
Metal, Chrome
Kangouru Coffe Table by Mathieu Matégot, 1954
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Barcelona, ES
Kangouru coffee table designed in 1954 by French designer Mathieu Matégot and edited by Gubi in 2000's. Metal and perforated metal sheet lacquered in black and white with brass...
Metal, Brass
$9,500 / set
H 20 in W 24 in D 14 in
Pair French Mid-Century Modern Nesting / Coffee Tables by Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in New York, NY
Rare and Elegant pair of French Mid-Century Modern nesting/ side tables or cocktail tables in perforated steel by Mathieu Matégot. The pieces are enameled black. The tables represent...
Metal
Mid-Century French Coffee Table by Mathieu Matégot, 1960
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1960 / Coffee Table / Mathieu Matégot / metal / Mid-century A sculptural and rare example of mid-century French design, this coffee table by Mathieu Matégot. It captures th...
Metal
$7,200Sale Price|39% Off
H 26 in W 74.75 in D 15.5 in
Two Large French Mid-Century Modern Lucite Consoles / Sofa Tables
Located in New York, NY
2 Elegant French Mid-Century Modern sofa tables or consoles in Lucite / Plexiglass with stainless steel fittings. The pieces are seamlessly made with their clear, transparent bases a...
Lucite, Plexiglass
$2,021Sale Price|25% Off
H 10.24 in W 48.43 in D 13 in
Long Low Mid-Century Tiled Coffee Table or Sofa Side Table, circa 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
A long, low coffee table or side table dating from circa 1960–1970, crafted in solid wood with an inset ceramic tiled top. The surface is composed of small rectangular tiles arranged...
Ceramic, Wood
$1,951 / item
H 13.78 in W 43.31 in D 25.6 in
Yoko Coffe Table, in canaletto Walnut, by Serena Confalonieri for Medulum
By Serena Confalonieri
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Yoko collection designed by Serena Confalo- nieri for Medulum consists of 3 wooden coffee tables. The pieces are characterized by the repetition of trian- gular elements, which visually refer to the Japanese art of origami. This recourse to geometric repetition is further high- lighted through the creation of an embossed linear texture which, on the surface, generates further ge- ometries, while, on the legs, it leads to different front and back of the surface, just like a sheet of paper. Various heights and sizes allow this coffee table collection to be placed both inside private homes, living and sleeping areas, and in public and hospitality facilities. The Yoko coffee tables...
Walnut, Wood
$1,416 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 40.56 in
Palafitte Coffe Table, in Canaletto Walnut, by DebonaDemeo for Medulum
By Debonademeo
Located in Meolo, Venezia
The Palafitte collection, inspired by Venice, the floating city, takes its cue from the urban system of wooden poles submerged in water, supporting the city’s structures. This design...
Walnut, Wood
$1,625 / set
H 15.16 in Dm 18.9 in
Mid-Century Modern Two Vintage Chromed Glass Side Tables Sofa Tables 1960s Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid-Century Modern set of 2 vintage side tables or sofa tables or stacking tables triangle-like from clear glass and chromed screwable fe...
Metal
$1,742 / set
H 16.54 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Pair of Mid-Century Italian Plexiglass Side/ Sofa Tables
Located in Vilnius, LT
Pair of Mid-century Italian side/sofa tables in plexiglass and brass decor. The table consists of the base and removable top. Each table weight is approx.29 kg. Very good vintage con...
Brass
Sold
H 14.57 in W 16.54 in D 9.85 in
Rare Mathieu Matégot 'Orleans' Black Metal and Brass, Side Table, France, 1955
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Den Haag, NL
Mathieu Matégot 'Orleans' black metal and brass, side table, France, 1955.
Metal, Brass
Mathieu Matégot Magazine Table, France, 1955
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice small side table / magazine table designed by Mathieu Matégot, manufactured by Atelier Mategot, France, 1955. The table is made of black painted metal, with die cut top and...
Metal, Brass