Art of Play - Wonder by Design

Tamate Puzzle Box

Tamate Puzzle Box - Main image
$60 $120 In stock

Category: Brainteasers

Tamate is a mysterious wooden gift wrapped with string. A friendly beginner puzzle box, the inner chamber is a perfect fit for a deck of poker-sized playing cards. A beaded string runs freely through the bottom of the wooden box but once undone, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with holding the wooden lid locked in place. Deducing the trick to access the secret compartment is not terribly difficult but nothing makes your most treasured hype deck seem more valuable than sheathing it in a rare handcrafted puzzle safe. Plus, it's a great opportunity to show off your knot-tying skills. A staff favorite.

Made from Zelkova wood in the Hakone mountains of Japan.

Customer Reviews (4.6 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Mia ★★★★★

The beaded string glides so smoothly that even my clumsy fingers managed to open it on the first try, which is rare for me with puzzle boxes. I slid a standard deck inside and it fits flush with no rattling, making it a clever hiding spot that looks like a simple folk craft on my shelf.

Penelope Y. ★★★★★

Got this for my dad who loves card tricks, and the fact that it fits a poker deck inside is spot on. He's been fidgeting with the string and wood for two days now, grinning every time he cracks it open.

Olivia ★★★★★

The beaded string glides through the wood so smoothly, almost meditative to pull. I’ve used it to stash a deck for game night, and the chamber holds them perfectly flush. A lovely little brainteaser that’s equal parts calming and clever.