Puzzle Box

Inspired by Japanese himitsu-bako, the secret boxes that reveal their contents only to those who know the sequence. This box requires multiple sliding panels to be moved in the correct order before the lid will slide open.

The monogram on the walnut lid is a statement of ownership. Commissioned as a christening gift, a box to hold small treasures as they accumulate over a lifetime.

The solution is known only to the maker and the owner.

The mechanism relies on tolerances measured in fractions of a millimetre. Each panel slides in grooves that are tight enough to hold position, loose enough to move smoothly. No springs, no magnets. Just wood on wood.

The cherry body provides a warm contrast to the dark walnut top and bottom. The wood was selected for stability; this box needs to work flawlessly decades from now.

Finished with hard wax oil. The moving parts are waxed for smooth, silent operation.