More Mathematical Beauty

Which Teaches Me To Count From Zero

Fibonacci Box from Jesse Born

Under surface is stunning too

Way back in 2018, I bought my first box from Jesse Born, the Pi Box which was reviewed here with huge pleasure. You all know that I "don't collect boxes" but if there is something else about a puzzle box that draws my attention then I bend my rule just a little bit - with the Pi Box, it was the connection to mathematics that did it for me. I have always loved mathematics (especially the abstruse pure mathematics) and have collected lots of recreational maths books and even attended the Open University for quite a few years to study maths before the job got so busy that I couldn't keep it going. So the mathematical connection of the Pi Box forced me to make a purchase - I was delighted and called it "possibly the most beautiful puzzle in the world". To be honest, having watched the incredible puzzles being made by Jesse, it took quite a lot of willpower to keep to my collection down to just the one box. However, I was ever mindful that I really cannot afford a divorce and Mrs S would not want hordes of bank balance busting boxes being brought to the door, I stayed with just the one.... until the Fibonacci Box was announced and I placed an order almost straight away. I hope that none of you blame me for buying another box? It again has a strong mathematical connection. It did take a very long time for Jesse to make them and it wasn't until March 2024 that it arrived. Complete with a certificate of authenticity - I am fairly certain that fake ones are not going to be possible!

To my shame, I took my photos and admired the manufacturing skill. It is another simply stunning creation to rival the Pi Box for beauty. It is made from Holly, Katalox, Cherry, Poplar, Brass, Richlite. I attempted to open it straight away and for some reason, I could never work it out. You all know the reason - I am not terribly bright! The description by Jesse claims that it should be easy but I was being dopey and not getting anywhere. I put it down on my desk after a week or so and it has been sitting in my study on the desk amongst an ever increasing pile of puzzles and was forgotten about until Mrs S forced a minor tidy and it was seen again. I spent another week or so before it was put down.

More recently, I did some more tidying and saw it again. I went back to the Pi Box and had a Think©.

Two of the most beautiful puzzles in my collection

One thing I noticed when I opened the Pi Box again, was the way I started counting and I had not been doing that with the Fibonacci Box. The important thing to realise is that mathematicians (and computer scientists) begin counting at zero! I should have realised that this might be important because the Fibonacci series starts at zero:

0   1   1   2   3   5   8.....

Looking tat the number of leaves/petals on the top of the box, I would not need to go that far along the Fibonacci series. Having worked it out and performed the series and unlocked the box and backtracked immediately. I then hit a snag. I had back-tracked and should have a locked box but it was still open. Very odd. Then I could not perform the sequence to re-open it. The last move wouldn't work. It was time to contact Jesse and receive some very nice support  via WhatsApp complete with a video of what he thought was happening. A quick click of the interior locking mechanism and I had it. Phew! Now I was able to open and close it at will.

Amazing work of art in the locking mechanism!

It was finally possible to have my two mathematical boxes open side by side:

Amazing mechanisms and beautiful workmanship

I would absolutely love to buy more puzzles from Jesse but fear for my life prevents it. Maybe I will get to try some more at an MPP in the future. It is not as if I have too few puzzles to play with. What I have is far too little time and not very much brain power to solve them!

I have made barely any progress on the Twins box:

Strijbos boxes