Miguel Berrocal

[maztec]

Okay, I was looking through Jim's collection, and have to admit I found a few puzzles of Berracol's that look cool:

http://www.lhup.edu/jstrayer/AliceII.htm
http://www.lhup.edu/jstrayer/astronaute.htm

I really like the ones that dissolve into jewelry, neat concept.

I like the use of Giro-Brain with this one:
http://www.lhup.edu/jstrayer/Hoplita.htm but otherwise think it is a bit tacky.

This one is amazing:
http://www.lhup.edu/jstrayer/Cofanetto.htm
Too bad he didn't make one that was place settings for six!
It would be a fun one to have for a romantic dinner.

Love the concept of the mechanism of this one:
http://www.lhup.edu/jstrayer/richelieu.htm

[ezamover]

I like the use of Giro-Brain with this one:
http://www.lhup.edu/jstrayer/Hoplita.htm but otherwise think it is a bit tacky.

You would throw away the sculpture for a PLASTIC Rubik's cube.....
I have to object your honour ... this man is a philistine.

Edit: .. I didn't realise it was the Giro-Brain... you were talking about .... NOT the cube ...

To Berrocal's credit though he obviously recognised a truly remarkable puzzle.

This one is amazing:
http://www.lhup.edu/jstrayer/Cofanetto.htm
Too bad he didn't make one that was place settings for six!
It would be a fun one to have for a romantic dinner.

Not ringing my bell here ....but nonetheless a fine piece.

[ezamover]

DISCLAIMER:-
Results might not be the same for you.
Any recommendation I give is not to be used against me for any problems that you might encounter, of any kind.
ie: Don't blame me if you lose your money, and/or your puzzle.

To go on.

My Goliath has arrived.

I can now confirm the integrity of the dealer I bought it from.
First a little background.

I sent this dealer wired funds ie:cash
So if he wanted to do a runner he could have ... easily.

I did a background check on his company before I sent them and it has a negative balance sheet.
Which is of course not a good sign.
However .. he runs 2 companies one in the UK and one (or more) in Italy.
I did not do background checks on the Italy companies.
Talking to him on the phone I got a good feeling about him and decided to throw the dice.

The item is exactly as described and is in suburb condition. (in my opinion).
I also got it much much cheaper than other dealers and it included the original box, corrugated cardboard and foam, not much of a big deal I know but for an investment piece this is a bonus. (Not that I am selling this EVER...)
The book that came with it looks like it was printed yesterday.

Anyway .....

The dealer I bought it from is http://art45.com/Contatti.html His name is Edward though he does call himself Paul. Yes .. I know alarm bells were ringing here too.....

The guy is a fanatic on packaging, unbelievable.
He told me it took 3 hours to pack ....I would have taken longer.

So ... if you like "Mint" condition Berrocal's .. I would, and am, dealing with this gentleman again.

Edit: P.S. My thanks to James Dalgety for checking with the Berrocal family re: Art45 for me too.

More Editing:

Edward sent me many more videos of the Goliath (after I had sent him the funds) Which show the serial number and much more detail.
This is the one he first sent.

[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?n ... LakrI2YhW4[/youtube]

[ezamover]

Re: Initial impressions.

I took it apart within about 5mins....
Easy ... really easy.

However .. I didn't take Edward's advice and mark every pieces number down on a piece of paper and place it on it as I did so.

BIG mistake.

Identifying the pieces even with the manual is tough.
I stayed up till 1am trying to find piece number 19 among the 79.

Here are a few pictures of the big fella all broken down.









This took my wife and I about 2 hours just to identify which piece was which.

This is supposed to be piece 19 ?? As shown above ....



This is one of about 4 sub assembly puzzles which have to be done first before you can "insert" them.



And after all that hard work ...

Here he is with a special medal.



Video breakdowns and assemblies to follow....

[RichAE91]

However .. I didn't take Edward's advice and mark every pieces number down on a piece of paper and place it on it as I did so.

i dont think any serious puzzler would take that advice as it defies the point of playing with the puzzle if you going to basically create a ''walk through'' as your disassembling it and then follow that to reassemble it you may as well as just build stuff out of lego as no puzzling is being done!

[ezamover]

True ....
But I think I could guarantee that it would take you a year to solve it.

If it was given to you disassembled without a picture .. I reckon about 5

Me .... without either ....
Never.

[RichAE91]

But I think I could guarantee that it would take you a year to solve it.

considering the price of a berrocal id expect nothing less than a year of playing around with it before managing to reassemble it after all the longer a puzzle takes to solve the bigger thrill you get when you manage to finish it!

[mattangel]

I have to agree with Rich...it seems a bit pointless to spend that kind of money and not enjoy the experience of reassembling the piece. I think you would have been better off spending the same cash on a car and doing the same.

[ezamover]

Fair point Rich,
But I am not a serious puzzler.
It's more of a sideline for me.

My real interest is in computing and software ... there are puzzles galore there

I like the Revo's.... cross that out... I love the revo's because they are dang clever.

I don't (and will never) devote enough time to solving them because they are not my main thing.
I see them as something I can muck around with for years and see if I can get somewhere.
(if I can resist looking at the unmade CE )
I see the Revo as something I am twiddling with on my death bed ! ....

The Berrocal is the same thing ... but backwards. Firstly I like the look of it then I like the fact that it comes apart.

I have to agree with Rich...it seems a bit pointless to spend that kind of money and not enjoy the experience of reassembling the piece. I think you would have been better off spending the same cash on a car and doing the same.

Look guys .... I don't want to sound like a wacker here,
But
The Berrocal's are well within my families range of finances for fun purchases.
As are Picasso's for some more fortunate than me.
And, I know not everyone, including some in my own family are not as fortunate, but I can't help that.

I also think they are an investment. So will appreciate in value unlike most cars.

We all like things for different reasons ..

The Revo's and the Goliath in particular ring my bell.

[ezamover]

edit .. topic back on track ... ! after I pressed publish ... still I will post what I wrote in reply to a previous post.

It's kind of wandering off topic a bit ....
But this topic is for the work of Miguel Berrocal

A hard core artist and puzzler .. IMO.

Too expensive for most and for most not worth the money ..

I love him to bits ... especially after actually having examined and played with one of his most amazing works actually in my hands.
Incredible engineering and artistic skills.

I don't think the younger generations get it though ... this guy was avant guard in his day.
Mates with Salvador Dali and Fellni et al.....A true artistic talent. AND inventive genius.

To top it off for me ... is he did it ALL with no CAD software .... or computer programs
As far as I know.

I am sure he had a million draftsmen working for him .. but even so .. still a great achievement for the time.

He was also featured in time magazine and scientific American.
(I will post more on this later.)

He received formal training in mathematics, architecture, chemistry, and art. Berrocal ran a foundry in Negrar near Verona, Italy.

From:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Berrocal

Now that's a man after my own heart ... interested in everything ! Including one of my own passions the human form in sculpture.

Mostly the female form I must confess .. but Goliath has won me over to the dark side.