16 Pesci

16 Pesci is a 2D packing puzzle designed by Enzo Mari and made using expandable resin in 1974 by the Italian design studio, Danese.  It consists of 16 pieces in the shape of aquatic animals.  The pieces are very thick at 28 mm and can easily stand on end.  Within the box, the pieces nestle together completely filling the box in a single layer except for the corners which are left empty due to the rounded corners of the packed shape.

It’s been more than half a decade since my Pop bought this puzzle.  I don’t know where he bought it or even why he bought it.  I never thought of him as a puzzler but he was an artist and this puzzle is more about it’s artistic nature than about the puzzling.  It is not challenging to assemble and I believe that the original intent was for it to entertain younger children.  Ironically, it’s much too nice for the hands of it’s targeted audience.  In fact, I found this quote on Enzo’s other puzzle, 16 Animali:

Over time, 16 Animali has moved from children’s rooms into museum collections and design shops, where the complete rectangle can look almost too composed to disturb.

As the only puzzler in the family, I recently took ownership of this puzzle that has been proudly displayed for decades on the back shelf of a storage closet.  I brought it into the light and dutifully took it apart and put it back together.  And I can confirm that it is more artsy than puzzley.  The only question is if I will do any better with the stewardship of this puzzle designed for children and made for adults.

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