Mathieu Matégot

Widely known as one of the most influential designers of his time, Mathieu Matégot (1910 - 2001) moved to Paris in 1931 after completing a program at Budapest’s School of Art and Architecture. After joining the French army, the burgeoning talent was captured and held prisoner in Germany where, while laboring as a captive, he developed new ideas about materials and techniques for design. After escaping in 1944, he began fully exploring a new design concept called Rigitulle - the pairing of perforated sheet metal with metal tubing. Matégot spent much of his life traveling the world in search of ideas and inspiration, and also exploring the countless ways his Rigitulle technique could be used to create objects that are functional, lightweight, eye-catching, and truly innovative. Rigitulle opened up a wide range of possibilities due to its flexibility and versatility. It could be folded, bent, and shaped almost like fabric, allowing for pieces that were lightweight, partially transparent, and fully modern.

At one point, Matégot had two workshops dedicated to the production of distinctive furniture and interior accessories: one in Paris and one in Casablanca, Morocco. In the early 1960s, Matégot turned his focus to tapestry and stopped producing furniture entirely. However, his creations in Rigitulle are still widely considered iconic examples of modernist design. Standing as testament to his vision, several of Matégot's pieces remain in production today, including his sprightly Coat Racks and iconic three-legged Nagasaki Chair which has also found a home as part of the permanent collection at the Vitra Design Museum.