S 46

Designed by Gastone Rinaldi in 1959 for Rima, the S 46 chair represents a milestone in the path towards industrialisation of the Padua-based company, marking the definitive transition from a traditional craft approach to advanced manufacturing technologies.

Technological Innovation

The main shift from previous experiments (such as the Du 43 and Du 42 models) lies in the use of spot electric welding technology. While the models of the early 1950s harnessed the tension of pre-existing or woven meshes, the S 46 was made by shaping straight metal wires on a shell and welding them mechanically at each intersection. This technical solution allowed RIMA to align itself with the production standards already successfully adopted by masters of American design, such as Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia.

Construction Details and Patents

The design was protected by an ornamental design patent filed in 1959, aimed at protecting the originality of the lines, materials, and structure. From an aesthetic and material standpoint, the chair was distinguished by a highly complex cover that required almost tailored execution by Rima's upholstery department.

Historical Significance

The S 46, together with the P 44 armchair created in the same year, embodies the "swan song" of the organic, wire-like shapes of the 1950s, before transitioning to the more schematic and straight-lined style of the following decade. It documents Rinaldi's ability to transform metal rods into a fluid material, creating a coherent and dynamic structure in which industrial innovation is placed at the complete service of comfort and function.