Just when you thought things were locked down tight for the
next few weeks I’m throwing a wrench in the gears. I’m unlocking the locks and libations series
this week for something geared to pique your curiosity and get the wheels
turning, perhaps with a little steam powered puzzling technology.
This modern marvel of mystery comes from the
South of France and is the creation of Christophe Laronde, a reclusive genius
who goes by the moniker “Neokid”. With a
background in masonry and building, Neo has been making his puzzle box
creations for the past five years or so.
His friend and business partner Julien Vigouroux, with whom he shares a
love of riddles, inventions and magic, recognized his talent and helped him set
up and start their joint venture, NK-Puzzle. They built
their workshop in an old distillery in Lodeve (“La Distillerie”), which has
become a home for developing artists.
There, Neokid invents, designs and manufactures his creations using
eco-friendly techniques and materials, with modern CNC machines, laser cutting,
and 3D printing.
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Truly a mechanical enigma! |
The “Mecanigma” box is a surreal fantasy inspired by “steampunk”
which features an explosion of mechanisms, gears, levers and knobs crafted from
veneered wood, plastic, steel and brass.
The box requires a sequence of 10-15 clever moves (depending on how you
count one of the steps) in order to open, and has a large storage space
inside where you will find a shiny plaque inscribed with the maker’s mark. Each unique side interacts with others and
the mechanisms are often locked on multiple sides. There is even a combination lock which must
be deduced in order to proceed, with self-contained clues provided by the box
itself. The design is brilliant and
delightful, tactile, whimsical, and fun.
The level of detail on the box is truly impressive, begging to be
explored, and provides rewarding movement with palpable and audible feedback as it comes to life. It’s reminiscent of something one
might find on MYST island and requires similar manipulations to solve. The Mecanigma is a stunning vision brought to
life by an enigmatic artist full of incredible ideas.
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French Storm by Lee Hyde |
To toast this mechanical marvel I’m turning my gears toward
France, of course, for a drink based on the original bohemian enigma of the
Belle Epoche – absinthe! Absinthe has a
long and storied history (which I have recounted in great detail) going back to
ancient Egypt and Greece, but is best known as the hallucinogenic
hangover-maker of the turn-of-the-century Parisian arts scene. Thujone, the chemical ingredient in Wormwood
(the bitter plant which flavors absinthe) was mistakenly thought to be
mind-altering, a fact that got absinthe banned for a hundred years.
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An enigmatic maelstrom of flavors |
This cocktail comes by way of London, where
mixologist Lee Hyde is well known for mixing up elixirs with emotion at Bar
Americain. He created his complex concoction,
the “French Storm”, for Enigma Absinthe while at Met Bar. It fuses an incredible combination of flavors
from the absinthe (originally Enigma Blanche, with notes of candied and
tropical fruit, lychee, fennel, anise, lime, toffee and caramel) with Aperol,
aged rum, cocao and almond. The result
is indeed a storm of flavor and feeling in the glass which recall the old and
the new. I can imagine Lovecraft
regaling Toulouse-Lautrec with his tales of the absurd while they sip on these perfect
potions. Vive la France, levons notre
verre, and Cheers!
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A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma ... |
French Storm by Lee Hyde
30ml Enigma Blanche de Fougerolles (I used Vieux Pontarlier)
15ml Aperol
10ml Ron Diplomático
15ml crème de cacao
10ml orgeat
15ml lime juice
egg white
15ml Aperol
10ml Ron Diplomático
15ml crème de cacao
10ml orgeat
15ml lime juice
egg white
Shake ingredients vigorously without ice to foam then add
ice and shake briefly to chill. Double
strain into a vintage cut glass coup, a steampunk chalice or any favorite receptacle. No garnish required for this one but I couldn’t
resist adding a lime wheel gear.
For more about NK-Puzzle:
For more about absinthe:
La Belle E-"box"
Special thanks to Julien Vigouroux for providing information and these incredible photos of the Mecanigma in various stages of construction:
Special thanks to Julien Vigouroux for providing information and these incredible photos of the Mecanigma in various stages of construction:
shared info is very helpful...
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ReplyDeleteNice Post
Thank you for sharing valuable information
If you are searching for puzzle box . Visit our website for the best collection of handmade games, gifts and many other items.
GERMAN:
ReplyDeleteIch habe eine Frage zu diesem Puzzle. Ich habe es gekauft und gelöst, aber ich habe eine Frage zu dem darin enthaltenen kleinen Objekt. Kann mir bitte jemand helfen zu verstehen, was es ist und wofür es ist? Danke im Voraus!
ENGLISH:
I have a question about this puzzle. I have purchased it and solved it but i have a question about the little item that comes inside... can someone please help me understand what it is and its for? Thank you in advance!
hello if you want you can watch the video of chris ramsey make about it , if you already solve it ;) best regards Yacine
Deletewould you sell it ? write me then. v.genc.1995@gmail.com
DeleteAny chance for a blueprint? 😁
ReplyDeleteHallo,
ReplyDeleteI need the link to buy it, plz
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteat the NKD website, you have two options, the mecanigma, then the kit. I'm guessing that when you purchase the kit, it comes with all the pieces and you just make it yourself. Am I correct on that?
ReplyDelete-
FYI, here is the link: https://nkd-puzzle.com/en/accueil/34-mecanigma.html?SubmitCurrency=1&id_currency=2