Boxes and Booze 9/23/17 Boxes and Booze 9/23/17

Now What?

The drawer slides out and you are holding Peter Hajek’s “Now What?” box. Peter’s puzzles instantly taunt you with their name, suggesting there is more than meets the eye in store. What do you mean, now what?

Boxes and Booze 9/16/17 Boxes and Booze 9/16/17

Reversal of Fortune

The end of Prohibition in 1933 was a highly celebrated reversal of fortune for many in the United States. Here we have another, the Reversal of Fortune puzzle box by our friend Jeffrey Aurand, a collector and hobbyist woodworker who hails from upstate New York

Boxes and Booze 9/16/17 Boxes and Booze 9/16/17

Parameter Motion

Kel’s philosophy has always been to reuse, renew and recycle for the benefit of our planet, and much of his work reflects that philosophy.

Boxes and Booze 9/9/17 Boxes and Booze 9/9/17

Blocks Away

“Blocks Away” was designed and created by Ron Locke, a friend to the puzzle box world who is no longer with us. Ron’s boxes are fanciful affairs full of mystery, legend and romance.

Boxes and Booze 9/9/17 Boxes and Booze 9/9/17

Ferris Box

Moving along the bottom row of the Apothecary Chest (introduced in Part I) we come next to one of the more distinct and recognizable “drawers” in the chest, Peter Wiltshire’s “Ferris Box”.

Boxes and Booze 9/2/17 Boxes and Booze 9/2/17

Dad’s Two Cents

The box which holds the garnet is called “Dad’s Two Cents” and contains its own secret, with a rather unique feature not seen on any other puzzle box that I have encountered.

Boxes and Booze 9/2/17 Boxes and Booze 9/2/17

Topless Box

Getting down to puzzling business is hard work, at times – North Carolina puzzlesmith Eric Fuller might even suggest you take your shirt off. At least, his Topless Box would suggest it.

Boxes and Booze 8/26/17 Boxes and Booze 8/26/17

Sweet Tooth Tiger

The Japanese zodiac is divided into a twelve year cycle, with repeating blocks of years represented by a different animal. It is said that you pick up a few characteristics from the animal year you were born during.

Boxes and Booze 8/19/17 Boxes and Booze 8/19/17

Butterfly Box (Pleasure and Pain)

Now for something pleasant. And painful. From the international man of mystery and mayhem, the Dutch devil of devious delights – that’s right, Wil Strijbos, the brilliant puzzle designer from the Netherlands – comes more mischievous merriment.

Boxes and Booze 8/12/17 Boxes and Booze 8/12/17

Secret Book Box

This year I present the stunning “Secret Book Box” from the Karakuri Creation Group artist Hideaki Kawashima.

Boxes and Booze 8/4/17 Boxes and Booze 8/4/17

Louvre

Brain Young, that is, aka Mr. Puzzle, the brilliant, baffling and inimitable puzzle producer from Queensland.

Boxes and Booze 7/29/17 Boxes and Booze 7/29/17

Diamond Box

It’s always a treat to discuss one of Kagen Sound’s fine boxes. He has made a reputation for himself as one of the world’s foremost puzzle box makers. The description doesn’t quite do justice to his work.

Boxes and Booze 7/22/17 Boxes and Booze 7/22/17

Ink Blot

I’ve been meaning to feature this little box for a while, as a way to say thanks. The box in turn was a thank you gift from the maker, Tracy Clemons, who sent it as a companion piece to the original “Writer’s Block”.

Boxes and Booze 7/15/17 Boxes and Booze 7/15/17

Sequence Logic

Back from the Victorian Age where he got lost in a good book, returns American craftsman Jesse Born to his workshop in upstate New York.

Boxes and Booze 7/8/17 Boxes and Booze 7/8/17

Penny Arcade

Who doesn't have fond memories of strolling along the boardwalk as a child? If you were deprived of that wonderful experience, I can tell you it was a place full of magic, excitement, sweet delicacies and adventure. If not, then you know what I mean.

Boxes and Booze 7/2/17 Boxes and Booze 7/2/17

Small Button Box

The Small Button Box is a truly amazing little marvel. It’s difficult to fathom the level of precise complexity that is packed inside this tiny puzzle.

Boxes and Booze 6/24/17 Boxes and Booze 6/24/17

Tin Woodman

We’re off to see the wizard this week as we get slightly sentimental. Created as part of the Karakuri Creation Group’s “Story” exhibition, the Tin Woodman from Japanese artist Yoh Kakuda might just melt your heart.

Boxes and Booze 6/17/17 Boxes and Booze 6/17/17

Sheep?

he fluffy and fun “Sheep?” by Karakuri Creation Group artist Kanae Saito is notable for being one of the very few puzzle boxes she has created with the group and for its, well, fluffiness.

Boxes and Booze 6/10/17 Boxes and Booze 6/10/17

Carousel Box

From the creative mind of Canadian puzzle box maker Kelly Snache comes the Carousel Box. Kel produced this as an homage to another fine box full of gears, the Stickman No. 3 Puzzle Box by his friend Robert Yarger.

Boxes and Booze 6/3/17 Boxes and Booze 6/3/17

Try-Knot

I’ve got myself all tied up this week. I’ll try knot to make things worse as I untangle the situation, but you’ve been forewarned. The Try-Knot Box (Puzzlebox No. 17) from Robert Yarger is another wonderful creation by the mechanical maestro.

A spirited journey through the world of collectible artisan puzzles