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ID #SA1222264
FOR SALE
£320
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An Antique Treen Irish Puzzle Ball
Opus Antiques
for sale €374     $406
£320
Opus Antiques

Opus Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2014
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    Antique treen, boxes & decorative georgian items
Id #SA1222264
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An Antique Treen Irish Puzzle Ball

19th century
For Sale by Opus Antiques
Description

This is an excellent example of an Irish puzzle ball.

This ball is lovely quality, note the feathering decoration. One of the circles pushes out to release a box for coins, rouge or snuff. It is made from arbutus wood, very similar to yew wood. This ball measures 5.5cm w.

Declaration

Opus Antiques has dated this Antique Treen Puzzle Ball to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1222264
Dealers Notes

Own a piece of history

Description
This is an excellent example of an Irish puzzle ball.

This ball is lovely quality, note the feathering decoration. One of the circles pushes out to release a box for coins, rouge or snuff. It is made from arbutus wood, very similar to yew wood. This ball measures 5.5cm w.

Date of Manufacture

Opus Antiques has dated this Antique Treen Puzzle Ball to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1222264
Opus Antiques
Opus Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2014

Antique treen, boxes & decorative georgian items

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Opus Antiques Profile Page

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A spherical turned wood puzzle ball featuring concentric carved rope twist rings and visible timber grain patterns.
1 / 3
Archive I A spherical turned wood puzzle ball featuring concentric carved rope twist rings and visible timber grain patterns.

An Antique Treen Irish Puzzle Ball

Archive II A spherical turned wood puzzle ball featuring concentric carved rope twist rings and visible timber grain patterns. View II
Archive III A spherical turned wood puzzle ball featuring concentric carved rope twist rings and visible timber grain patterns. View III
Enlarged Archival View
Telephone 07941 285 532
Location
North Devon
United Kingdom
Verified Since Oct 2014
Items For Sale 93
Items Sold 2,372
Opus Antiques
Opus Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2014
View Dealer Info
Location: North Devon, United Kingdom
Verified
Oct 2014
For Sale
93
Sold
2,372
A spherical turned wood puzzle ball featuring concentric carved rope twist rings and visible timber grain patterns.
An Antique Treen Irish Puzzle Ball
Ref: SA1222264
A spherical turned wood puzzle ball featuring concentric carved rope twist rings and visible timber grain patterns.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Archival Detail
Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Treen refers to small, functional or decorative domestic items crafted entirely from wood, historically produced before the widespread adoption of metal and plastics. Wooden puzzle balls were turned on a lathe and carved with interlocking or concentric patterns intended as tactile novelties or complex brainteasers.

These objects were typically turned from dense hardwoods such as boxwood, fruitwood, or walnut due to their tight grain structure. Craftsmen used specialized handheld turning gouges and chisels to form precise concentric bands and moving internal components.

Authentic period examples feature natural wood grain variations, subtle hand-carving marks, and surfaces darkened through handling over time. Look for minor organic shrinkage across the wood grain and authentic wear along the raised carved edges.

Display small treen objects on open bookshelves, within glass cabinet displays, or on sideboards alongside hardback books. Grouping pieces with contrasting wood species creates a focused decorative arrangement.

Dust the item regularly with a dry microfiber cloth and avoid positioning it near radiators or in direct sunlight to prevent shrinkage. Apply a thin layer of natural beeswax polish annually to nourish the timber and retain its natural sheen.
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