Chinese Puzzle Ball

The art of ornamental design has been part of China's culture for thousands of years. Art and craft have gone hand in hand to create items of great beauty and functionality. Beauty and functionality are inseparable from each other, for beauty itself is a function in Chinese culture. Each shares in equal importance. Intricately painted wall scrolls, highly ornamented hand fans, and other items of Chinese art are well known. Not so the Chinese Puzzle Ball. 

The Chinese Puzzle Ball is one of the summits of Chinese ornamental design and beauty. These complex objects are thought to have an influence on the unity of the family. These puzzle balls come in many sizes, and can be made of ivory, wood, resin, soapstone or jade. Most are handmade, and consist of an outer sphere that contains smaller, movable spheres. They generally come in balls of 4-18 layers.

Whatever the material the ball is made from is first shaped into a ball. Then conical holes are drilled in to the ball, and the layers are separated with L-shaped tools and small power grinders. After the layers are separated, the outside of the ball is carved with dragons, scenery, or other subjects. The ancient puzzle balls that were made of ivory also had each inner ball carved as well, a difficult task in any era, but especially when there were only hand tools to do it. 

The layers of the ball can be thought of as symbolizing the four basic elements of earth, wind, fire and water, or the four directions of the compass. These multi-layered balls are one of the wonders of Chinese craftsmanship, practiced since ancient times. They are also rightfully known as Mystery Balls. Once they are seen and it is remembered that these balls are created out of a single sphere, you may consider them a mystery too!