Puzzle Sculptures by Franco Rocco |
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Immaginario Lunare (1983)An unique, beautiful and baffling 6 inch sphere. A sequence of 12 moves is needed to remove the first Pear-wood quadrant. Then a series of very unusual movements are required to dismantle the sphere into its 34 parts of wood and different metals.
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La Via di Colombo (1991)A special edition of Immaginario Lunare was made to celebrate the 500th aniversary of Columbus' atlantic crossing in 1992. This edition encloses a bracelet and the "anello dei due mondi" (ring of the two worlds).The Way of Columbus is presented as a hollow sphere resting on a square base with a concave depression at its centre. The sphere has a diameter of 16 Cm. It is divided into eight sectors joined by turned brass, die-cast pins and pivots. A unique sequence of 12 movements allows the sphere to be opened to start its dismantlement into its 37 constituent parts, which include a silver rhodium-plated bracelet and a ring which can be detached from the bracelet and worn separately.
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Produced in a limited edition of 1000, each signed and numbered by Franco Rocco. It is accompanied by a magnificent book with embossed images describing the symbolism of the sphere and its relationship to Columbus' journey in 1492. |
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Scaccomatto Scaccomatto is a sculpture, a puzzle, and a chess set. |
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Yet, each cube is also a complex puzzle of interlocking elements that will disassemble into 16 chessmen. Each cube weighs 7 pounds and measures 3" x3" x3".
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First produced in 1977 as a limited edition of 1000, each signed and numbered by Franco Rocco. |
Scacco-FR
SCACCO-FR is a slightly smaller version of SCACCAMATTO but basically the same geometry as the original. Three different versions were attempted in Limited Edition: - |
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Opposite and below shows the wonderful set made in the 1990s of hardwood. Each of the very complex pieces was made from a single block of hardwood without any gluing or assembly. This edition was abandoned due to technical difficulties after a very short run, so these sets are now extremely rare. |
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Scacco-FR (2001)Made of a black oxidized and satin-silver nickel and chrome finished plated zinc alloy. It was originally presented in this green package which was supeceeded by the wooden Presentation Case shown below. |
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The last version was presented in this wooden case measuring 8.2 inches square by 3.5 inches high . It contains Two 2.5 inch Cubes of Chessmen (puzzles), The Puzzle Chess board which assembles into a 13 inch square. Instructions and a DVD of the solution.
More Pictures of on Scacco-FR
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IMAGINARIO LUNARE is still available (2013). The following are NOT currently available: - SCACCOMATTO |
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