Kagen Schaefer Puzzle Box

I just got back from the CO-DESIGN show and I had to post this first. Not really furniture, but unbelievably cool. This little wood box was in a display case for most of the show, and I didn't really notice it. Then I got talking to the guy who made it, Kagen Schaefer, and he's telling us he is a champion puzzle box maker. So what's a puzzle box? Well, this picture doesn't do it justice at all. The top surface is made up of very thin wood pieces that slide back and forth, and by sliding you can make all sorts of different geometric patterns: a herringbone, various angled rectangles, etc. But when you arrange them into the pattern engraved on the side, the drawer opens. Fantastic.

Read more...