+44 (0)208 133 5895

Scarab

Sold

Archiblocks "Victorian entrance" bas-relief puzzle

This great architectural item is in fact an educational toy! Made by the Bower Studios Corporation of Vermont USA in about 1989 it is made up of 94 hardrock maple pieces put together to form a Victorian entrance. It is in an ebonised wooden dove-tailed box with a removable plexiglass cover. The back has been drilled so that the box can be hung on the wall and used as a purely decorative item. There is a Bower Studios Corporation information sheet on the back of the box.

It seems that these sets are not being made any longer although the name Archiblocks appears to being used but not by the Bower Studios Corporation.

Approximate dimensions:
Weight: 2lbs 15.25ozs - 1341gms
Height: 9.72ins - 24.7cms
Width: 8.35ins - 21.2cms
Depth: 2.09ins - 5.3cms

In 1988, Ron Bower, a potter in Vergennes, Vermont, began making wooden columns rather than blocks. First, he tried turning Greek columns on an old lathe, then branched into other, correctly proportioned, architectural elements (e. g. pediments, gables, lintels, arches). Thus, the concept for "Archiblocks" was born. Although Bower had almost no woodworking experience, he hand-crafted the first 500 sets of "Archiblocks" in his basement workshop. The first sets were sold in January 1989. Bower gave up pottery and worked full-time designing and making "Archiblocks" prototypes. The blocks, made of smooth, unpainted hardrock maple, were manufactured by Bower Studios Corporation, a small company in Vermont.
"Archiblocks," are toys but, according to Bower, "...not necessarily for children." In fact, 75 percent of the sets are purchased by adults. The "Archiblocks" line includes a catenary arch puzzle and a pyramid puzzle. Sets were available in Greek, Roman, Post-Modern, Southwestern, Victorian, Renaissance, Islamic, and Japanese "styles." Ostensibly, the sets were designed to give their users "...a latitude within that style so that they can build many different buildings from one set." Each set comes in three sizes. The "mini-classics" have 2" columns; the "desktop-classics," 4.5" columns; and the "collector's classics," 8" columns.

Join The Club

The Scarab Club

Gain exclusive access to early stock releases, utilise our finder service, receive email updates and much more.

Register your details with us to join The Scarab Club

Already a member? LOG IN

Join The Scarab Club

Other items of interest

  • Guerlain Fleur de Feu eau de toilette bottle

    £65 Details

  • Art Deco macassar ebony jewellery box

    £295 Details

  • Contemporary Japanese bronze pot modelled as a shell

    £95 Details

Back to the top ^