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 Interestingly,
the puzzle box dates back some 3,000 years, originating
from Egypt where over time, its popularity works its way
to China, Japan, Vietnam, Poland, India, Morocco,
Persia, and other various countries.
While the puzzle box’s history is a long one,
the best-known design is the Himitsu-Bako, which has
only been around 100 years.
With this particular design, master craftsmen
from the Hakone region of Japan work with the various
local trees to come up with a wonderful selection of
colors and styles.
Originally,
the puzzle box was made primarily for tourist or
travelers looking to bring something back home that was
reminiscence of the country visited.
However, this small box has now become much more.
In addition to being a great souvenir, the puzzle
box makes the ideal jewelry box or gift.
Because these boxes come in so many designs, they
truly make the perfect gift for people of all ages.
What
makes the puzzle box so interesting is that while on the
surface it just looks like a sweet box, the truth is in
its design, allowing you to lock it without a key.
For this reason, many people love having a puzzle
box to keep jewels or other precious trinkets tucked
safely away. These
boxes are designed with a number of movable parts.
Depending on the style you choose, you might need
to push, pull, slide, or lift something to get the box
to open. Making
them even more secure is the fact that the process of
opening the puzzle box is done sequentially.
Therefore, unless you know the exact steps to
follow, chances are the box cannot be opened. Even more fascinating is that some boxes are made with just
two steps to open while others can have up to 122 steps!
With
many puzzle boxes being so small, they are great for
travelers who need a place to store treasures such as
jewelry or even important documents.
For instance, if you travel for your job, a
puzzle box could easily be kept in a briefcase or purse.
Keep in mind that during the 100 years of
development, a wide number of new styles have emerged.
This means you will find a variety of woods,
designs, and even sizes.
The development of the puzzle box has provided
people with something pleasing to look at but also a
functioning security tool.
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