Italian DU 55 Armchairs by Gastone Rinaldi for Rima, 1950s, Set of 2

About This Piece

Vintage Design

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Creator	Gastone Rinaldi
Manufacturer	Rima
Design Period	1950 to 1959
Production Period	1950 to 1959
Country of Manufacture	Italy
Identifying Marks	This piece has been attributed based on archival documentation, such as vintage catalogs, designer records, or other literature sources
Style	Italian, Midcentury, Italian Modern
Detailed Condition	Restored — This vintage/antique item is in very good condition because it has been refreshed through new upholstery and/or refinishing.
Restoration and Damage Details	Patina consistent with age and use, Reupholstered
Product Code	TEA-1497559
Materials	Brass, Polyethylene/Styrofoam
Color	Cream
Width	63 cm 63 cm
Depth	60 cm 60 cm
Height	74 cm 74 cm
Weight Range	Standard — Between 40kg and 80kg

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Netherlands
Returns	Returns accepted within two days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Options

Front Door Delivery: (Included in Every Order)	A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below). The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.
In-Home Delivery: (For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)	A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers. The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.

Front Door Delivery:
(Included in Every Order)

A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below).
The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

In-Home Delivery:
(For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)

A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers.
The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine every order upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damage or missing or incorrect pieces, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations of missing, damaged, or incorrect item(s) represents your acceptance of the complete order in perfect condition.

About the Creator

Gastone Rinaldi

Italian designer Gastone Rinaldi was born in 1920 in Padua, Italy. His father, Mario Rinaldi, was the founder of the metal furniture manufacturer RIMA. Established in 1916, Rinaldi and his brother Giorgio eventually gained control of the company in 1948.

In the postwar era, under Rinaldi’s leadership, RIMA quickly became a leading brand for Italian homes. Notable designs include the DU9, DU10, and DU11 Chairs (all 1951 for the Hospital Section of Milan’s IX Triennale), the sculptural DU43 Lounge Chair (1953), the DU30 Chair (1954, Compasso d’Oro), the DU41 Armchair (1957, Silver Medal at XI Triennale), and the Sabrina Chair (1970s). In 1956, RIMA began producing sofas with metal structures that featured fold-down mechanisms. The most well-known example is the avant-garde Saturno Sofa (c. 1958), which is part of the permanent collection at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

In 1974, due to strife within the company, Rinaldi left RIMA and established Thema in Limena. Both the tubular steel cantilevered Arianna Armchair (1978-9) and the Dafne Chair (1978) received nominations for Compasso d’Oros in 1981. Thema closed in 1989.

Over the course of his career, Rinaldi collaborated with many renowned Italian designers, including Franco Albini, Franco Campo and Carlo Graffi, Michele De Lucchi, Ignazio Gardella, Carlo Mollino, Ico Parisi, Gio Ponti, Alberto Rosselli, Ettore Sottsass, and Marco Zanuso. Notably, Rinaldi designed armchairs for the Piccolo Theater in Milan (1998) in collaboration with Zanuso and designed chairs for the Molinette Hospital in Turin in collaboration with Mollino. Ponti’s architectural magazine Domus often published Rinaldi’s designs.

In addition to being a talented designer, Rinaldi also played soccer for AC Padua, Cremonese, and AC Udinese in the 1940s, and he was an amature racecar driver, participating in Italy’s legendary Mille Miglia (Thousand Mile race).

Rinaldi passed away in Padua in 2006. In 2015, the exhibition RIMA: Ricerca e Stile was held at the Cigola Fenaroli Valotti palace in Brescia.

Although he is not as widely-known as many of his contemporaries, Rinaldi’s designs—many of which were produced in limited quantities—are coveted today by high-end collectors.