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THE GORDIAN KNOT & OTHER RELATED PUZZLESThis magnificent paperweight puzzle was in made of 3/16th inch stainless steel rods by Pentangle in 1972 when it won a London Design Centre Award. It is a development of many simpler versions. |
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 Indian Cane Puzzle 1850s |
 Indian Double Cane Puzzle 1950s |
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Some 19th Century Examples |
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Fifty years ago, our venerable senior metagrobologist designed many variants. Putting a kink in the centre rod, turning the kink 90 degrees, substituting a solid "pear shaped ring", doubling the loops, etcetera. Many were sold briefly by Pentangle and the last one was developed by Ron Cook into the finest version ever marketed. | ||
Very cunningly the cord was tied with a Double Matthew Walker Knot. Most cheats did not notice this and their crime would be revealed when they restored it with a simple thumb knot.
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The original 1970s Box |
The final 21st Century box
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At the same time in the 1970s James Dalgety tried to develop a good design from a single piece of wire or rod. These are some of the resulting ideas that culminated in the Double Treble Clef Puzzle at the lower right. This also won a London Design Centre Award. Both the Gordian Knot and Double Treble Clef have since been endlessly copied, usually without any credit.
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