Antique/ Vintage 12cm 4 layer Chinese puzzle ball, slight age related wear but in overall good condition.

Chinese puzzle balls have been around for hundreds of years. Originally, they were made almost exclusively from ivory, or the tusks of elephants and were the playthings of rich men because of the time and effort involved in making them. Most balls have between 3 and 7 layers, but the largest known example is made up of 42 separate balls! Usually, puzzle balls are symbols of good luck, and are decorated with a variety of feng shui symbols. The outermost layer often features the phoenix and dragon, symbols of yin and yang. The phoenix represents the wife while the dragon is the husband and emperor, and balls decorated with these symbols are thought to bring good luck and happiness to a marriage. In fact, almost all of the symbols most commonly associated with puzzle balls are associated with ensuring a long and happy marriage.