Mondrian's Mess is a metal assembly puzzle created by Tom Jolly in 2021. Building on concepts from his puzzles Little Window (2011) and Open Window (2012), and with a name inspired by the abstract geometric paintings of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian, Mondrian's Mess turns those two designs inside out, putting the odd-shaped pieces on the outer layers instead of on the inner one. The result is a visually appealing piece of art that's just as pleasing to look at as it is to play with.
The goal is to find the single solution to fit the six pieces into the frame. Made of anodized aluminum and sandblasted brass, the precision machining and finish make for very satisfying movements, and the assembled puzzle has a nice weight and soft feel in the hands.
It makes an excellent companion to the smaller four-piece Mondrian's Square.
Mondrian's Mess ships in an unsolved configuration.
Handling Metal Puzzles:
All metals tarnish over time. Residual oil and salt from handling speed up the process and may leave undesirable fingerprints. The brass piece can be shined with any standard brass polish, but we do not recommend you use polish on the plates as it may damage the finish.