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.
A Large Modernist Abstract Tapestry by Mathieu Mategot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Atlanta, GA
A modernist wool woven tapestry designed by French artist and designer Mathieu Mategot (1910-2001) circa 1960s. The piece is signed with Matégot and monogrammed TMP fino (Manufactur...
Canvas, 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
$12,600Sale Price|30% Off
Mathieu Matégot Wool Rug by Aubusson, circa 1950, France
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Girona, Spain
Mathieu Matégot wool rug by Aubusson Made by the Aubusson manufacture Bold abstract design Signed Providence: Christie's auction house, circa 1950, France With restorations Go...
Wool
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
19th Century Uzbek Silk Embroidered Suzani Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
19th century Uzbekistani hand spun linen Suzani with silk embroidered floral motif and silk ikat border. Reverse side has original antique Fine hand printed cotton backing.
Linen, Silk
$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
1960 Vintage Art Nouveau Tapestry Abstract Fish Handwoven 2x4 About Us~ Welcome to Antique Rug Collection. Your #1 Source for handmade Antique Rugs & Tapestries at great prices...
Wool
$200 / item
H 0.1 in W 60 in D 50 in
Bit Map Series 02, Multicolor Modern Graphic Woven Wall Tapestry & Throw Blanket
By Luft Tanaka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bit Map Series 02 by Luft Tanaka Studio A multicolored and visually striking throw blanket / wall tapestry woven out of 100 % cotton yarn. 50" x 60" / 127cm x 152cm (custom sizes available upon request) Reversible. Opposite side has the same design with inverted colors. The Bit Map Series is based on digital “doodles” Luft makes using Kid...
Cotton
Antique French Silk Aubusson, circa 1890
Located in Secaucus, NJ
The Aubusson workshops, on the river Creuse in France, are famous for their antique European rugs, carpets and tapestries, woven since the 18th century. The Royal Council established...
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
Pretty Vintage Aubusson Style Jaquar Tapestry
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very pretty Aubusson style tapestry with nice galant design and beautiful colors, woven with mechanical Jaquar looms with wool, acrylic and cotton. ✨✨✨ "Experience the epitome of lu...
Wool, Cotton, Acrylic
19th Century French Aubusson Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
A French Aubusson tapestry from the 19th century, depicting several young courtiers spending a leisurely afternoon gaily dancing and carousing within the splendidly maintained verdan...
Wool
$96,500
H 0.25 in W 120 in D 152 in
Special Piece Ivory Color Antique Flanders Biblical Tapestry Life of Moses
Located in New York, NY
17th Century Flanders Biblical Tapestry ( 10' x 12'8" - 305 x 385 ) Subject: Scene from a life of Moses Series, probably the reconciliation of Miriam and Zipporah Period: Late 16th ...
Wool
$1,190
H 1 in W 10 in D 20 in
Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin Large Linen Textile Swatch 1955 Signed, Schumacher
By Frank Lloyd Wright, Schumacher
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Panel swatch dating to frank Lloyd wright’s original 1955 collection for Schumacher. "Design 102" Extremely rare original large scale fabric swatch. This swatch is also in the collec...
Linen
$5,425
H 48 in W 60 in D 0.2 in
Antique French Tapestry 4X5 Handmade Tapestry Verdure Tapestry 122cm x 153CM
Located in New York, NY
Rare Antique French Tapestry handmade Verdure Tapestry 4' x 5' 122cm x 153cm Circa 1920 A magnificent antique French tapestry depicting a hunting scene amongst a verdure setting...
Wool
$3,481
H 68.51 in W 48.04 in D 0.16 in
Nice Antique French Hand Printed Lurçat Signed Tapestry « Rooster »
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful antique french hand printed tapestry by renowned Cotto manufacturer with nice design of Jean Lurçat, titled « Coq » (Rooster) with a signature printed on the design of...
Cotton
Large Abstract Wool Wall Tapestry, Sweden, 1988
Located in Rīga, LV
Unique wall hanging featuring a grid of geometric motifs in warm earthy tones of ochre, rust, and brown, handwoven in linen and wool. The piece bears a label reading “Gift from the P...
Wool, Linen
Tapestry by Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
limited edition “Arène” wool tapestry by Mathieu Matégot designed in the 1950’s for Tapecarias de Portalegre, Portugal. Numbered 1/6 Multicoloured ground woven in shades of red, p...
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
Mathieu Matégot Signed Aubusson Tapestry for Pinton, France 1960s
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in New York, NY
In the early 1960s, Matégot left furniture design to devote himself full time to tapestry work, becoming one of leaders of the modern movement in French tapestry. His tapestries toda...
Wool
Mathieu Matégot Tapestry Titled "Voilliers"
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Dallas, TX
A tapestry titled "Voilliers" from an addition of six by Mathieu Matégot.
Large Tapestry by Mathieu Matégot "Fiction"
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Dallas, TX
A large tapestry titled "Fiction" from an addition of six designed by Mathieu Matégot.
"Portofino" Tapestry by Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful modernist weaving by French artist Mathieu Matégot.
Abstract Tapestry by Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Dallas, TX
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...
'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
Mathieu Mategot / Aubusson "Dragon Dans La Nuit" Tapestry
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in New York, NY
" Dragon Dans La Nuit" by Mathieu Mategot for Tapisserie D'Aubusson. Edition 3/6
Hand knotted wool, signed signature in tapestry, and Aubusson label.
Wool