Mid-Century Mathieu Matégot Coffee Table “Copacabana”, circa 1955, France (TB0092)

Mid-Century Mathieu Matégot coffee table “Copacabana”. Made with steel. Enameled in white. Very decortive. Circa 1955, France. Mathieu Matégot (b.1910, Budapest, Hungary – d. 2001, Angers, France) was a french designer who made significant contributions to the field of furniture and interior design. In the early years of his career, Matégot studied at the Budapest School of Arts and Crafts, where he learned traditional metalworking techniques. However, his education was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, and he had to flee Hungary to escape persecution as a Jew. Matégot eventually settled in France in 1931, where he continued his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Budapest. During his time in France, Matégot began experimenting with new materials and techniques, pioneering the use of metal in furniture design. He developed a unique style that combined functionality, aesthetics, and innovative craftsmanship. Matégot’s creations often featured bold colors, organic shapes, and perforated metal, which gave his designs a sense of lightness and transparency. In 1954, Matégot opened his own design studio in Paris, where he gained international recognition for his innovative furniture and interior designs. He collaborated with prominent manufacturers, including Atelier Mécano, which produced his iconic “Nagasaki” chair and “Copacabana” table. Matégot’s designs became highly sought after, and he received numerous awards for his contributions to the field of design. His work was exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Mid-Century Modern (MCM) is a design movement in interior, product, graphic design, architecture, and urban development that was popular from roughly 1945 to 1969, during the post–World War II period. The term was used descriptively as early as the mid-1950s and was defined as a design movement by Cara Greenberg in her 1984 book Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s. It is now recognized by scholars and museums worldwide as a significant design movement. The MCM design aesthetic is modern in style and construction, aligned with the Modernist movement of the period. It is typically characterized by clean, simple lines and honest use of materials, and it generally does not include decorative embellishments.

DIMENSIONS

Height: 37,09 cm (14,6 in)  Diameter: 95 cm (37,4 in)