Pan Am armchair by Gastone Rinaldi for Rima, 1970’s

Pan Am armchair by Gastone Rinaldi for Rima, 1970s. Designed by Gastone Rinaldi, these chairs were originally intended for the lounges of the airline "Pan American Airlines, " also known as "Pan Am." The backrest even features the airline's logo. Very typical of modernist Italian design, voluptuous, high-end, and original, this series of chairs is stunning. The armchairs are made of chrome-plated steel wire. Italian designer Gastone Rinaldi was born in 1920 in Padua, Italy. His father, Mario Rinaldi, was the founder of the metal furniture factory RIMA. Founded in 1916, Rinaldi and his brother Giorgio took over the company in 1948. In the post-war period, under Rinaldi's leadership, RIMA quickly became a benchmark brand for Italian homes. Rinaldi's designs—many of which were produced in limited quantities—are now coveted by high-end collectors. The two examples presented here are in used condition (pitting and oxidation on the legs).