MJ2 Artesanos

Author: Mj2

  • The Roman dodecahedron. An enigmatic artifact from the 2nd century.

    The Roman dodecahedron. An enigmatic artifact from the 2nd century.

    We have known about them since the 18th century, but their purpose is still unknown.

     

    User:Itub [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)]
    Roman dodecahedron found near Frankfurt

     

    The first Roman dodecahedron was found in England in 1739. Since then, more than a hundred have appeared in different parts of Europe (especially in Germany and France). However, the purpose for their manufacture remains unknown given the limited information available about them.

    They are hollow dodecahedron-shaped objects measuring between 4 and 11 cm. Mostly made of bronze (although some are stone), their faces have holes of different diameters decorated with engraved circles and small spheres at the vertices.

     

    Replica of a Roman dodecahedron. MJ2Artesanos. Detail

     

    They are estimated to date from between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, and since some have been found alongside buried coins, it is generally assumed they were valuable objects.

    There is little information about them, and there are many hypotheses about their purpose, with no consensus among the scientific community on any of them.

    It is surprising that no reference to them has been found in artistic representations of the period, although Plutarch wrote in the 1st century that they represented the zodiac (twelve faces, twelve symbols). This explanation does not seem to convince the scientific community.

    Among the hypotheses being considered are diverse uses such as measuring instruments, some military objects, candle holders (wax remains appear to have been found in some of them), dice for some type of game, calendars for calculating sowing dates, and even the theory recently emerged that they were used to knit gloves.

    I recommend this Mentalfloss article that delves deeper into these theories:

     

    The Mysterious Bronze Objects That Have Baffled Archaeologists for Centuries

     

    When we learned of the existence of these objects, we thought it would be something beautiful to reproduce, and here is the result.

    It’s 3D printed. Modified and hand-painted to achieve the look we desired.

    Roman dodecahedron replica. Mj2artesanos

     

    Roman dodecahedron replica. MJ2Artesanos

     

     

    Now available in our store:

     

    http://www.mj2artesanos.es/es/home/106-dodecaedro-romano.html

  • Micro stand. Caduceus. Sarah Evil

    Micro stand. Caduceus. Sarah Evil

    Each new project for a micro stand is exciting because we make something unique for the costumer.
    This time Sarah asked us for a silver caduceus-shaped stand (with the exception that the heads were dragons instead of snakes).

    Imagen: Wikipedia. Usuario Rama

    From there, as we always do, we were in contact with her to let her know how the process was and what was being done. This way we are sure that the final result will be of the costumer’s liking and she will involved in a job that will only be for her.

    Many times people asks us how much for the same stand than they have seen on our blog. We always answer the same. We do not make duplicates, each one is manufactured according to the costumer’s premises, and if it is not very clear, we do our best to help you and find something personal. (Except in the case of the Bon Jovi replica, which is a collectible item, not a costumization for a singer).

    This was the result:

    Rear

    Dragon’s head

    And here our friend Sarah the first day she used it:

    Here is her facebook page so you can know this great artist from Salamanca:

    https://www.facebook.com/SarahEvilMetalHardRock/

     

  • The first Jissaw puzzle in the History

    The first Jissaw puzzle in the History


    The history of the puzzles goes back to the second half of the s. XVIII when the cartographer and engraver John Spilsbury created for educational purposes, around 1767, the first puzzle of history by sticking one of its maps on a wooden board and cutting the countries by the borders.

    Some sources point out that these first puzzles were created for the entertainment and education of the Prince of Wales (later George IV), whose education was in charge of Lady Charlotte Finch. Although there is evidence that she

    El primer puzzle de la historia que se conserva en la British Library. J. Spilsbury 1767 http://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item104695.html

    had some of these puzzles, it can not be specified if they were an order of her.

    Spilsbury was the first to commercialize the product, initially intended for upper classes, with several models of maps. From the world, Europe, Asia, Africa, America, England and Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

    These maps were a great educational resource and they were continued using for it until the s. XX in which the use of the puzzles was popularized for recreational purposes.

    The reproduction that we show you is of the map “Europe divided in its kingdoms” of which a copy in the British Library is conserved.

    The original has 50 pieces, of which 5 (Scotland, the Channel, the Netherlands, Corsica and Sardinia) have been lost, and the Gulf of Finland is damaged.

    We have replaced these pieces by “blank maps” so that the map is complete but respecting the “historical” void of the pieces.

    We have made it like the original, sticking the map on a board and cutting the borders with a saw.

    Approximate measurements are 44 x 47 cm and its presented in a wooden box.

    It is available in our online store.

    More information:

    http://www.juguetessomosnosotros.com/juguetes/el-primer-puzzle-de-john-spilsbury/
    http://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item104695.html