Ribbon

Overview

Ribbon is a bed by Vincent Van Duysen, dated 2015 on Molteni&C's datasheet, where it is described as a fabulously soft textile bed with a young, modern design using natural materials. Both the page and the sheet call it his debut with Molteni&C. The upholstery, in textile or leather, hooks up to a ribbon with leather details that runs all the way round the headboard and the bed, serving a structural as well as an aesthetic purpose.

Image source: Molteni&C — Ribbon · © Molteni&C and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

Construction

The headboard is a veneer structure with foam rubber padding in varying densities and a velour cover. The bed surround, for a bed with headboard or a surround-only version, is solid and multi-layer wood with moulded polyurethane padding and a velour cover. The feet are anodised aluminium with non-slip plastic floor slides, and the bed-base storage container is melamine-finished chipboard panelling with positioning handles.

Specifications

• RLE18 bed with headboard: 190 cm wide and 211 cm long outside, 110 cm high (the vertical value is not labelled on the drawing)

A debut for Molteni&C

Both Molteni&C's page and datasheet present Ribbon as the first work Vincent Van Duysen did with the company. The page adds that it shows his refined approach to modern design, where natural materials and meticulous craftsmanship come together in an object that is both intimate and sculptural. Van Duysen has led Molteni&C's creative direction since 2016.

The ribbon and the rosette

The soft, inviting silhouette is compared on the datasheet to a rosette, underlining the familiarity of the object, while the page likens the contours to the gentle curves of a ribbon wrapping the structure in a continuous embrace. According to the sheet, the tall and softly padded headboard is what makes it a highly contemporary product.