Minima Set 1-4 - Frederic Boucher - Pelikan Puzzles

Minima Set 1-4 - A Miniature Packing Puzzle Collection

Dive into the compact world of Minima Set 1-4, a series of four mini packing puzzles designed by Frederic Boucher and produced by Pelikan Puzzles. Each puzzle in this set challenges you to pack pieces into a small box, offering a delightful blend of accessibility and difficulty in a beautifully crafted wooden format.

The Set:

• Dimensions (Each Puzzle): A petite 50 mm by 35 mm by 35 mm (approximately 1.97 inches by 1.38 inches by 1.38 inches).
• Included Puzzles:
  • Minima 1 (Elm/Wenge): Pack three pieces into the box, using two unusually placed windows to unlock the solution.
  • Minima 2 (Walnut/Acacia): Pack four pieces, including one with 5 voxels, into the box, discovering how they interact.
  • Minima 3 (Purpleheart/Ash): Pack three pieces into the box to form an apparent cuboid, with the 4-voxel piece requiring a "dance" to fit.
  • Minima 4 (Jatoba/Padauk): Pack four flat pieces into the box, where the flatness belies a challenging solution.
• Material: Each puzzle is crafted from two distinct woods: Elm/Wenge, Walnut/Acacia, Purpleheart/Ash, and Jatoba/Padauk, offering stunning contrasts and a tactile experience.

Why You'll Enjoy It:

Inspired by Frederic Boucher’s daily train commutes in Tokyo, the Minima series, born in spring 2020, showcases his talent for creating challenging yet accessible packing puzzles in a 2x2x3 unit format. Each puzzle in this set, as Boucher describes, offers a unique challenge—from leveraging unusual windows in Minima 1 to mastering rotations in Minima 4. Kevin Sadler praises their progressive difficulty and the added challenge of blind solving in Pelikan’s wooden versions, noting the precision manufacturing and the need for careful planning. These puzzles are not only a mental workout but also a visual delight, making them essential for serious packing puzzle collectors.

Engage with Minima Set 1-4 and tackle these beautifully crafted challenges - a stunning introduction to the Minima series awaits!