The Minibox C2 is a packing puzzle from Vinco, the workshop of Czech designer and craftsman Václav Obšivač. Its wooden pieces, derived from the half-cube idea, must all end up inside a small box, which sets the limits and forces you to make use of every gap. It is sold with its wooden box.

• BrandVinco
• DesignerVáclav Obšivač
• TypePacking puzzle (half-cubes)
• MaterialMixed woods
• DifficultyLevel 5 (Vinco scale)
• IncludesWooden box

Design

A half-cube is either of the two halves you get by dividing a cube. Vinco works with “mutant” variations on that idea, pieces that no longer have exactly half the volume, and uses them to create packing puzzles like this one. In a packing puzzle there is nothing to take apart: the challenge is to find where each piece goes so that everything closes up within the available space.

The workshop combines woods in contrasting tones, such as walnut, maple or cherry, so the pieces are easy to tell apart at a glance.

Skill level

Vinco gives it level 5 on its scale, one of the highest in its catalogue. It’s an unhurried challenge, recommended for anyone who has already tried packing puzzles and enjoys testing combinations at their own pace.