The Tangle holds an interesting place in design history; depending on who you ask, it's a desk toy, decorative object or therapeutic device. It stands to reason that an object based on perpetual motion and the concept of infinity would be open to endless interpretation and use.
Artist Richard X. Zawitz is a longtime student of Taoism who created his first twist in 1972 and patented the Tangle in 1982. The interlocking curved sections can be rotated into countless forms. A staple in museum shops since its debut, the Tangle's therapeutic value has been touted for stress relief, muscle and joint rehabilitation and as a fidget toy.
My dad brought a bright red one home from an early 80s business trip. He promptly displayed it on our coffee table, where it was surrounded by the other art and design objects that my parents collected. No guest could resist it, and I played with it for hours on end. I forgot about our Tangle until rediscovering it at the MOMA Store, and now I need to get one for my own coffee table.
Learn more about Tangle's history and see all of the different versions at Tangle Creations.
(Image: MOMA Store)
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Ohhh I love my tangle, it lives on my (home) desk and gets use regularly. I got mine at a corporate training event where everyone was their materials, play dough, a koosh ball, and a tangle.
All these years, I never knew this object had a name. Thanks!
I remember. I also remember Crdl; (sp?) a magnetic base with metal flakes you could manipulate.
I was given a Tangle in high school to help me quit smoking (something to do with your hands I suppose) Although it didn't help me quit smoking, I loved that thing to pieces. During a move on year it got lost and I was upset! Just last Christmas I found some of these in a Kiosk in the mall! I bought two, and have one at work and one at home. I would looove to have a fancy stainless one someday :)
I also got given one as part of a Corporate goodies bag to celebrate a milestone. I used to play with it at my work desk wasting time. The supervisor couldn't argue with me, it was a gift from the Company with it's logo on it and we were told to 'have fun' with our goodies. Oh the good times.
What odd timing, just last night my husband pulled my old mini-Tangle out of the games cupboard (where it had been sitting for at least a year) and started playing with it. One of our cats was entranced by it.
As a former teacher, I found the Tangle to be the perfect thing for kids who constantly needed something in their hand in order to pay attention.