MATHIEU MATÉGOT WAS A HUNGARIAN/FRENCH DESIGNER AND MATERIAL ARTIST. AFTER ATTENDING THE SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE IN BUDPEST, HE MOVED TO PARIS IN 1931 WHERE HE BEGAN MAKING FURNITURE. HE LATER VOLUNTEERED FOR THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND WAS TAKEN PRISONER IN GERMANY. DURING THIS TIME, HE WORKED IN A FACTORY MANUFACTURING MECHANICAL ACCESSORIES AND DISCOVERED THE POTENTIAL OF SHEET METAL. 

AFTER BEING LIBERATED IN 1944, HE RETURNED TO PARIS AND OPENED HIS OWN WORKSHOP. IN 1952, HE PATENTED "RIGITULLE", A TERM FOR THIN, PERFORATED SHEET METAL. WITH THIS TECHNIQUE HE MANIPULATED METAL BY FOLDING, CRUMPLING, AND CREATING ORGANIC SHAPES TYPICALLY SEEN IN SHADES OF YELLOW, RED, WHITE, AND BLACK. 

HE BECAME KNOWN FOR HIS AVANT-GARDE APPROACH TO SHAPES AND DESIGNS OF SMALL FURNITURE AND EVERYDAY OBJECTS THAT COMBINED THE SIGNATURE PERFORATED METAL WITH RATTAN, FORMICA, AND METAL TUBING.

HIS DESIGN PHILOSOPHY WAS THAT A PIECE OF FURNITURE MUST BE ADAPTED FOR THE INTERIOR, AS WELL AS FOR THE EXTERIOR.