Du9

Designed by Gastone Rinaldi in 1951 for Rima, the Du 9 chair represents one of the most significant milestones in the international recognition of the Paduan designer. The model gained prominent visibility at the 9th Milan Triennale (1951), where it was selected by Franco Albini to furnish the Conference Room and was included by Vito Latis and Melchiorre Bega in the Hospitality section.

Technical Profile and Innovation

The distinctive element of the design lies in the tilting backrest, an innovative technical solution for the time that lends dynamism and ergonomic comfort to the seat. Characterized by a tubular metal frame, the Du 9 is a model that demonstrates Rinaldi's constant pursuit of spatial rationalization and synthesis of volumes. The construction complexity of the seat and backrest — which at the time involved intricate phases of sheet metal bending, welding, drilling, and eyelet application — reflected the high artisanal skill of the RIMA workforce applied to mass production.

Historical Context and Critical Reception

The chair attracted immediate critical interest, being published in the American magazine Interiors in September 1951. The validity of the design was subsequently confirmed by its inclusion in international exhibitions, such as the exhibition at the Kunstgewerbe Museum in Zurich in 1954, and by its inclusion among the most significant objects of Italian design in historical inserts of Domus.