A spirited journey through the world of collectible artisan puzzles
Pairing craft cocktails with crafty puzzles
Valentine’s Day
I’m really a sentimental fool. To prove it, I’ll embrace this year’s Valentine’s Day full on, with the perfect puzzle box and love potion pairing. There’s no chance you won’t be smitten.
Luddite’s Mill
Thomas Cummings produces his unique style of puzzle boxes under his Eden Workx label, turning reclaimed and recycled wood and brass into tricky little boxes.
Sandwich Box
Hungry? Me too, I could really use a sandwich. I’m particularly fond of what we called “hoagies” in the north east. You might know them as “submarines”, “po-boys” or “grinders”. Hmmmm? Oh, not that kind of sandwich?
Affine Creations
I fancy a few words for a fine creation. Nicholas Phillips is a furniture maker and woodworker from Silver Springs, Maryland, who produces lovely wooden boxes and chests under his “Affine Creations” moniker.
B-Box / Reactor
Once opened, as a wonderful reward there is another entirely independent puzzle box, perfectly nestled inside the internal compartment of B-Box. Tip this out and you are holding the “Reactor Box”, a tiny puzzle box which packs a huge headache designed and created by Eric Fuller
The Gates of Time
“Time is an illusion” – Albert Einstein. I might add that all good illusions could be considered puzzles, and derive that time is a puzzle. Which is quite literally true this time.
Mouse Kingdom
Mouse Kingdom depicts a brave and clever little mouse who is hoisting the mouse flag over his (or her) dominion in triumph while the sleepy cat snoozes unaware on the other side of the wall.
Burl Tile Box
Just in time to combat the chilly weather is something to warm the spirit - the long awaited Stickman No. 30 Puzzle Box, the “Burl Tile Box”.
Ronaporthe
This handsome fellow is a beast of burden created by Karakuri Creation Group artist Yoh Kakuda, who is known for his magical menagerie of puzzle box designs.
Button Box (BB)
Kyoko Hoshino of the Karakuri Creation Group makes her puzzle boxes distinct with her use of cloth and other materials in and on her boxes.
Open for Business
The “Open for Business” box was created by Peter Wiltshire, a cinematographer who resides in Canada. Usually busy directing the shots with his massive cameras and video equipment, Peter occasionally turns his considerable talents to woodworking.
Illogical Box (Stickman No 19)
“True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing” – Socrates.
Spline Box 3
Eric Fuller is not Japanese, so these rules don’t apply to him – he prefers to make the exception the rule. Which is to say, he delights in making his puzzle boxes extremely difficult to open. And of course, we puzzle box partisans rejoice.
House Secret Box
The “Secret Box House” was created by the master craftsmen in Hakone, Japan, the cradle of yosegi marquetry woodwork and origin of the “himitsu-bako”, or secret box. The house is adorned with incredible yosegi details, including the bricks of the house, the chimney, and the shingles on the roof.
Salt and Pepper Shakers
The deviously puzzling Sandfield brothers, Robert and Norman, designed their Salt and Pepper Shakers to exchange at IPP 22 held in Antwerp in 2002.
Waterfall Box
Considered by many to be a master of the art, Kagen Sound (nee Schaeffer) crafts his artisanal puzzle boxes in Colorado using his mathematical mindset and wood working techniques usually reserved for fine musical instruments.
Autumn Box (Stickman No 10)
The Autumn Box by Robert Yarger takes on a more traditional rectangular prism (box) shape than many of his designs, yet remains one of his more beautiful creations thanks to the vibrant fall colors it features.