June 25, 2002

3:23 PM

Karakuri trick BoxesBrought to you by one of the Karakuri craftsmen. Beautiful and intricate, you may also need some patience. RF-4 by Iwahara, for example, requires 324 moves to open (also featured at the Puzzle Museum)! Lest, you confuse these with Burr puzzles, you must know your puzzle-types.
posted by vacapinta (7 comments total)

That's very cool. I just wish they had a version of LeMarchand's Puzzle Box.
posted by eyeballkid at 3:32 PM on June 25, 2002

oh yeah, click on all the guys in the 'Karakuri craftsmen' link. An amazing range.
posted by vacapinta at 3:36 PM on June 25, 2002

I've had a puzzle box in my room at home for... as long as I can remember. I never knew it was an example of such an interesting craft... but I didn't think about it much at all, really.

It only takes a measly 14 (rather obvious) moves to open it, though.
posted by whatnotever at 4:10 PM on June 25, 2002

I released this post into the wild before I was entirely ready. This craft is local to the region and relies on a mosaic woodworking technique: Yosegi-Zaiku
posted by vacapinta at 4:22 PM on June 25, 2002

Great post! I love those boxes, it appeals to the mechanical dork in me as well as the decorative arts afficianado.
posted by jonah at 4:25 PM on June 25, 2002

What is your pleasure, sir?
posted by Kafkaesque at 4:25 PM on June 25, 2002

Yah, I keep thinking "Hellraiser," for some reason... :D Dudes, where's Pinhead?
posted by metrocake at 5:15 PM on June 25, 2002