This week we are sharing a unique and (we hope) interesting post. It is a small collection of ivory puzzle balls. These amazing feats of skilled carving fascinate me!
Puzzle balls are made in China, usually of ivory, but sometimes jade, bone, or other materials are used. The ivory ones often come with a tall and elaborately carved stand.
To make the balls the sphere is first turned on a lathe and then conical holes are drilled toward the center. Layers are carved from the inside out. The more layers it has, the more intricate the piece. The largest can be over six inches in diameter and have over twenty balls inside! I just love the delicate and lacy look of the stand on this one.
Puzzle balls are very fragile and easily damaged. They are a tempting puzzle of trying to line up all the holes; but if you do try, use something soft and thin like a quill or a toothpick. This handsome guy was once a piece from a chess set. Wow! Imagine, it must have been fabulous!
This is my latest find, and it’s incredible.
Look closely! This one has eleven smaller carved balls that are free moving on the outside layer! Way cool!
It takes very little force to damage the inner shells, and dropping them is usually fatal! So, one must use delicacy and patience to solve a puzzle ball. Since I have neither, I just look at mine, lol!
Hope you enjoyed looking at them too!
Hugs,
Patti
87 comments:
I have never seen these balls before but they look bautiful and intriging.
Have a nice day
Wow. Love these pieces you have. When I first was married I had lots of the ivory pieces because I had decorated my home oriental. Now I have the more traditional and antique look, but my sister still has the pieces. I always think of taking them (because I love them), back but she is enjoying them now.
Thanks for sharing.
What stunning works of art, my daughter would love these! Thank you for sharing.
WOW! Your puzzle balls are amazing. They are beautiful works of art.
Dee
Holy smoke, those ivory balls are amazing. I love intricate carvings of any kind and the level of skill required to do this kind of art is amazing. You have a beautiful collection and from looking at your blog, a very good eye!
WOW!! these are so awesome I have never seen these before..thanks for sharing these girls..Have a GREAT day..hugs and smiles Gloria
I haven't seen puzzle balls in a long time! My godmother had some but I wasn't allowed to touch them! Thank you for sharing.
Visiting from Debbiedoos
How beautiful!
Hi lovely lady.
This Ivy ball is Gorgeous !! You have a bautiful collection..
I would like to thank you so much for your sweet comments on my new black and white Tablescape. I hope you have a great week with your family.
XXOO Diane
Very unique! I love the vignette. Thanks for sharing with my newbie party.
Boy howdy!! I have seen them and wondered what they were? Thank you for clairifying Patti! What a stunning collection you have! And so beautifully photographed too *winks* Vanna
I have never seen or heard of these before. Most fascinating! Lynda
They are gorgeous. Wherever did you find them?
They are really cool!
I'm puzzled. Just kidding. I've always loved the craftsmanship of these. You have a beautiful collection. Great taste, and a great eye.
Patti,
Fabulous! Y'all find the most beautiful and unusual antiques. Thanks for sharing.
oh my Patty.. what beautiful unique pieces.. I know you must cherish those..
Those are so unique. It looks like a lot of detail went into making them. They also look so delicate. Thanks for sharing the pictures and the story behind them.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley
How beautiful!! Very interesting too. I'm a new follower and I look forward to getting to know you two ladies. Stop by and say hi when you can!
Pat
I can honestly say that I've never heard of these mysterious, intriguing things! So beautiful. Thanks for sharing your collection and the history behind them. And thanks for linking up over at Club G.W. with Charm Bracele Diva!
xoxo
Kathleen
These are amazing, I've never seen anything like them. The craftmanship is stunning. Thank you for sharing.
I always enjoy my to visit your creative space. Thanks again for sharing another beautiful post.
Hope to see you on my blog:)
Thanks for sharing the delicate puzzle balls and their history.
Beautiful!!! I have not run across theses balls before in my treasure hunting. What a great find. Laura Cottage and Broome
I've never seen anything like that before. It's really beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing these unique works of art at my Sizzle into Summer party.
what an interesting post~
Hi....never seen these before but they do look interesting. I love the color...very pretty.
Barb
Wow these are amazing pieces of art and engineering!! The variety is amazing! They are truly lovely to look at and I think that if the person who made each one didn't have patience in the beginning of the project, they certainly must have attained patience by the time they finished!! Would you have any idea how long it would take someone to make one and do they still create these pieces?
bee blessed
mary
Those are so beautiful! I have never seen anything like that before. Where ever did you find such a sweet treasure?
Cindy
OMG, all of your photos are gorgeous. I love your puzzles balls, their so pretty. This is my first time to ever see one, so thanks for sharing them!
hugs~~~ Daphne
Wow! I've never seen these before. Thank you for sharing them.
Happy White Wednesday,
Judy
HI PATTI!
What a fabulous name for a blog! AND YOUR HEADER IS STUNNING....I SO LOVE IT and different from anything I have seen. YOUR WARES are magnificent! So you come over to me from Doré's blog? She is my sister in THEATRE making!
MUCH LOVE AND THANKS for such a treat for my eyes this morning! Anita
You have introduced me to something new and incredibly beautiful. I'd put these lovelies in a ver secure place where nothing could happen to them.
This is completely new to me... Very interesting and truly beautiful.
I would just be looking too, Patti! And thank you for opportunity to look at yours! Stunning!
How stunning!!
I have seen this, never knew what they where called. Thanks for the bit of history. Great, unique collection.
Hi Patti,
Wow. I think I saw one of these years ago, and as intriguing as it was, it didn't hold a candle to your collection! They are lovely, and I should probably be kept 10 feet away at all times. :)
Your comment over at Revisionary Life just made my day! Thank you so much for stopping by. I'm going to come back for a more in-depth visit tonight. For now, I'll start following!
Many blessings,
-Revi
Your photos are amazingly beautiful! And I love the vintage ones. I forgot to say that before.
-Revi
What fantastic pieces of art. They are so beautiful and interesting.
These are amazing. I have never seen one like this, but then if I had, I would not have known what it was! How interesting. Have a great VTT!
I have never seen anything like this before. They do look oh so delicate, and beautiful.
You have some of THE most amazing collections I've ever seen! I thoroughly enjoy seeing and learning about them.
Thanks for sharing your lovely items at Time Travel Thursday each week. I love having you join me.
Blessings,
Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/
These are beautiful! What a phenom and treasure. I love them displayed there with the pearls - they go so well together.
I have never seen a 'puzzle ball' before and thank you for sharing these beautifully exquisite art pieces. So elegant! Love them.
I've never seel these before. So ornate and gorgeous!! I think I'd just look at mine too!
*hugs*Deb
I have never seen anything like them,they are beautiful and the time and work that has gone in to them is amazing,
x
WOW, I've never seen anything like that! How interesting!! I can't even imagine the SKILL required to make one of those. Your pieces are exquisite. Thanks for sharing!
Patti,
This is very, very interesting! I have never seen nor heard of these - I can just imagine how fantastic they are - especially knowing how delicate they are - now on the lookout!
Great job,
Kathy
I have never seen anything like this, I just love them.
Thank you for sharing these gorgeous puzzle balls.
Hugs,
Ellen
Thank you for sharing such a fascinating and interesting post on these ivory balls. In all my years, never knew of such a thing. They are very unique.
I'm amazed! I've never heard of these beauties before, & certainly have never seen one. They are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.
:) CAS
These balls are absolutely striking and intriguing. I've never even seen one in the fanciest antique stores, You have some fantastic examples. Never been to your blog but love it. I will now be a follower.
Ann
Absolutely beautiful - the first time I have ever seen such a treasure. Thanks for sharing.
- Joy
very pretty!
Those are beautiful and amazing! So glad I stopped by to see them!
Very interesting, indeed. I've never seen those before. I, myself, am a klutz, therefore I will stay very far away from your puzzle balls. They are beautiful and as my mother would say while strolling through the china departments "keep you hands in your pockets, and don't make any quick movements." Very cool!!
Those are beautiful! Thanks for following my blog, following you back :)
Hi Patti, Debs Dealz here to follow you back from your visit to my blog! I am so glad we connected, I love your site!!! I invite you to stop back over and link up to one of our daily hops, we would love to have you! Hop over and link up to Thankful Thursday (still open a couple more hrs), or the TGIF Blog hop!
thanks again for stopping by, I look forward to keeping up with you!
http://www.debsdealz.blogspot.com
Wow...these are super gorgeous. Love them all. And thank you so much for my prize. I received the gorgeous porcelain pitcher in the mail today. It is so beautiful. My mom is going to love this. Thank you again. Hugs. !!!
The puzzle balls are beautiful and delicate looking! I can't imagine what kind of skill level you must have to make one, much less solve one! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for linking to Potpourri Friday and helping to make it a success! I appreciate you, sweet friend!
How amazing, I've never seen one of these! so intricate and very beautiful. So glad you shared these on VIF, xoxo
Yes, they are beautiful. But they make me 'nervous' - I can't help but look at them and be afraid they would easily break. It's amazing to me that one of those was/is a chess piece. Thanks for the beautiful pictures.
those are so interesting. where did you find them?
that is old art for sure
Janice
I have never seen these. They are beautiful and amazing! What detail! Thank you for joining TTF. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you for following Atlanta Military Mom! I am now following you as well! :)
Mandy
These are beautiful. I have never seen them before. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for educating me about Chinese puzzle balls. They are absolutely fascinating! The craftsmanship is incredible and they are beautiful just to look at, too. Where do you find them?
I have never seen anything like this but it doesn't surprise me at all that you would have something so amazing in your collection of treasures! :-) Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Inspiration Friday this week!
Vanessa
Those are amazing!
What a fantastic collection. You two have the neatest things! Thank you for linking it up at Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
What beautiful unique puzzles. I have had some in the past and sold them. They must have taken a lot of skill and a steady hand to make. You always have such fun things to share. Thanks for your trip to my chicken coop, Richard from My Old Historic House.
Simply beautiful!
How very beautiful and interesting! Lovely having you visit for Treasure Hunt Thursday! See ya next week!:)
Hi Patti,
What lovely and delicate works of art.
hugs
Sissie
Marvelous post. I've always been fascinated by these amazing works of art. I can't imagine the time and skill it must have taken to carve them. I would be afraid to touch!
Magnificent pieces... I always marvel at the Artisan Skill necessary to create such Masterpieces of Art!
Dawn... The Bohemian
Those are beautiful! I've never seen one before. Hi! New follower from the FNF blog hop! I hope you'll follow back. Thanks! :)
Through the Eyes of a Tiger
How beautiful!!! I've never seen these before and I am fascinated! I found you through the blog hop and I'm glad I did. I love all your finds (I've been reading through quite of few of your recent posts.) I'm eagerly waiting to see what treasures you share next.
Amazing, I think that the only place I have ever seen puzzle balls was on the market streets in Hong Kong. Was much younger and passed them up, kicking myself now! Yours are gorgeous especial the one with the stars on the inside ball. Thanks for sharing!
Maureen :)
Really pretty and so interesting. I've never seen them before. Lovely post...and the linky party list is amazing!
Cool!
I'm a new follower from the FNF hop. Hope you can stop by www.mamasmusingsblog.blogspot.com
These are amazing. I have never seen anything like it. So glad you're sharing them with Seasonal Sundays.
- The Tablescaper
Wow! Those are amazing. Thank you for sharing :)
Sue
These are really interesting. Thanks for linking up to Share the Love Wednesday!
Mary
Patti, What unique and beautiful pieces! You have the most wonderful collection. Thank you for linking to the Open House party.
Hugs,
Sherry
Wow! I've never seen anything like that before, and here you have quite a gorgeous collection! They are absolutely wonderful! I love how you photographed them with the lacy background! Those should be featured in a magazine!!!
Thanks so much for joining me for Pearls and Lace Thursday with your pretties! And good luck on the giveaway!
Blessings, Doni
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