io9
The knives are little more than a slender metal wedge and the three-tined forks so narrow you can barely spear a green bean, but what Arne Jacobsen's stainless steel flatware lacks in functionality, it makes up in futuristic style. That's why it was featured in 2001. I own a set of this famous flatware, and have the backstory scoop on the most elegant utensils ever used in a science fiction film.
Designed in 1957 as part of Jacobsen's down-to-the-smallest-detail plan for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, the cutlery was chosen by director Stanley Kubrick for a cameo role in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Visible for a few moments while the Jupiter Mission crew eat dinner and watch the news, Jacobsen's space-age design is still available today. It ain't cheap, but how else can you impress the new, improved generation of HAL supercomputers at your next dinner party?
Comments
They look long enough--put 'em on the plumcard :D
"...but how else can you impress the new, improved generation of HAL supercomputers at you next dinner party?"
By cutting and eating your meal with your telecinetic powers!
F that, I want the big black obelisk thing.
I like how this design predates and predicts the biggest revolution in flatware history...
THE SPORK!
Nothing says "functional and sci-fi" like a spoon with a cool-looking wrench in it for taking apart your camp stove. You could tell people that it's built-in hydrospanner.
@E0157H7: Actually, I've been tempted to use the knife as a screwdriver.
NFW, that is so cool!
You actually OWN a set of these and they can be BOUGHT?
STILL?
They'd be PERFECT with my replicator glasses. (ST not SG)
You can get them from Georg Jensen. Sadly the SAS Radisson is not what (I suppose) it used to be. Exterior holds up (though there are much better Arne Jacobsen buildings in Denmark), but the interior has either aged terribly, or really been poorly looked after. Hotel is quite unremarkable now.
@strider_mt2k: It's worse than you thought: I don't have it because of the 2001 connection, but because I'm mid-century design geek.
@lperil: Nooooooo! ;)
Hey guys, first comment over on this site. I've been a Kotaku commenter for awhile, but this site looks right up my alley too.
Oh, and 2001's my favorite movie. Love the flatware.
@Benjo: Welcome!
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