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Iconic design, re-defined for a new generation.
Founded in 1959 by designer Peter Raacke, graphic designer Karl-Oskar Blase, and managing director Herbert Seibel, German brand Mono has been developing products that defy the passage of time and short-lived trends since the beginning. As a clear proof of the company’s success, various tableware and kitchen accessories have become a part of permanent museum collections. Among the brand’s most iconic designs, the Mono Ring flatware has made waves in the design world. Originally created by Peter Raacke as an experiment in 1962, Mono Ring revolutionized tableware and table manners in equal measure.
The name ‘Mono’ referenced the “monoblock” piece of metal that provided the foundation for every punched piece of cutlery. The ground-breaking design featured a ring at the top that allowed the display of the cutlery not alongside plates, but on a rack in the center of the dinner table. A bold introduction of the “self-service” concept in an era when fine dining manners remained deeply ingrained in society. This small, but crucial detail changed the dining ritual forever. It also brought a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere to dining rooms across the world.
A huge success, the Mono Ring flatware sold over 1,000,000 units worldwide. At the height of its popularity, the collection included everything from coat hangers to corkscrews. In 1967, only 5 years after its launch, the Mono Ring design was included in MoMA’s permanent collection. In the ‘80s, the flatware changed with the times to feature dishwasher-safe plastic handles before production stopped in 1994. Now, Mono has launched a modernized version of the legendary design. A collection that introduces the renowned flatware to a new generation of design lovers.
Reinterpreted by young designer designer Mark Braun, who studied the original in depth, and approved by Peter Raacke, the new collection brings the classic to life. Mark Braun refreshed the original form of the tableware and chose five contemporary colors to brighten the design further. His fascination with everyday objects and the way they become a part of the users’ lives also influenced the creative approach for the flatware’s new chapter. Crafted to stand the test of time beyond its aesthetics, the collection features a range of traditional and manual techniques as well as high-tech materials and state-of-the-art technology.
Each piece of stainless steel cutlery undergoes a 30-step process that includes high-pressure punching, pressing, and stamping. Manual techniques range from sanding to finishing and polishing. For the handle, Mono uses a high-quality polymer that is not only dishwasher-safe and durable but also temperature-resistant. The injection molded handles feature 1.5 mm glass fiber in the interior for stability as well as glass spheres for perfect balance. Thanks to the innovative internal structure, the stainless steel sections fit into the handles securely. All of the manufacturing processes take place in the Mono factory in Mettmann and in the town of Velbert, Germany.
Apart from the cutlery, the Mono Ring collection also includes the indispensable table stand. This allows the user to display the cutlery as originally intended. An emblematic design, ready to make dining more beautiful and to become a part of daily living. Photographs© Fabian Frinzel, Mono.
