The Bed is both a sculptural object and a functional device that encourages us to put away our phones, as a shared ritual act. It is handmade in silver, designed by the artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset and commissioned by Georg Jensen.

We wanted to make something beautiful that could be displayed in the home, but that could also positively impact how people spend their time,” says Michael Elmgreen and continues, “since it seems like the biggest threat to our love lives and relationships today might be our use of cell phones and the increased time we spend on social media, we created The Bed as a gesture towards mediating this problem.”

“It’s almost like an Easter egg. It’s an object that has a promise in it. There’s excitement to it, when you open it,” adds Ingar Dragset and elaborates, “we wanted the Bed to have its own promise, like an expectation of the future. You put your two phones in the Bed, close it and the signal is gone. You go through the ritual together as a couple.”

The shape of an egg has an inherent aesthetic balance. Conceptually this links to the balance people are currently seeking to find in hectic, always-connected lives. Eggs are enclosed structures that facilitate incubation and birth, and therefore, they can also symbolize new possibilities.

The Bed represents unparalleled craftsmanship, and it requires an extremely talented silversmith to bring it to life.  

Using templates, the shape of the base and the lid are marked on a thick sheet of silver and cut out by hand. The centre is marked and the silver is then driven upwards using several hammers and irons. As the silver is raised and stretched to the adequate dimensions, the Bed is heated numerous times to maintain the silver’s flexibility. To strengthen and support the shape of the Bed, a silver rod is soldered along the edge of the base and the lid.

We are increasingly interrupted by the streams of the digital world, but once in a while it would make perfect sense to go offline and enjoy the people and the world right in front of you.

See Georg Jensen Masterpieces

Georg Jensen masterpieces are worthy of their name - they display the very highest level of craftsmanship and design. Silverware to be appreciated now and passed down through generations to become family heirlooms.