Maker · the cabinet's people
Robert Yarger
Artisan puzzle-box maker · 'Stickman' · USA
Robert Yarger, who works under the name 'Stickman,' is an American craftsman who hand-builds mechanical wooden puzzle boxes from his small workshop in Edmond, Oklahoma. He is one of only a handful of people worldwide pursuing the art of the wooden puzzle box, and his eclectic, mechanism-driven designs are coveted by puzzle enthusiasts and art collectors alike.
His boxes characteristically incorporate wooden gears, levers, cams, and interlocking moving parts, with the appeal lying in their ingenious locking mechanisms and the surprising ways their hidden compartments are revealed. Yarger favors wood for its natural beauty and history in the craft, while occasionally working in glass, metal, and plastic.
Stickman boxes are released as small, individually numbered and signed limited editions—a production run can take around four months—which makes them rare and highly collectible, often changing hands through puzzle auctions and found in museums and galleries.
Style signature
Eclectic, sculptural wooden boxes packed with working wooden gears, levers, and cams; each is individually numbered, signed with the Stickman logo, and released in tiny limited editions. He describes the work as 'Innovative – Mechanical – Interactive.'
Notable works
- Stickman No. 1 (Oakwood Slide Box)
- Stickman No. 22 (Gordian Knot)
- Chopstick Box (Stickman No. 13)
- The Beast
- Milestone Book (Stickman No. 25)
In the cabinet
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Questions about Robert Yarger
Who is Robert Yarger?
Robert Yarger, known as 'Stickman,' is an American craftsman in Edmond, Oklahoma who hand-makes mechanical wooden puzzle boxes. He is one of very few wooden puzzle-box makers in the world, and his boxes are prized collectibles.
What makes Stickman puzzle boxes special?
Stickman boxes are built almost entirely from wood and use intricate wooden gears, levers, and cams to drive their locking mechanisms and hidden compartments. They are released as tiny, individually numbered and signed limited editions, which makes them rare and highly sought-after.
Where can you get a Stickman puzzle box?
Because Stickman boxes are made in very limited numbers and each run can take months, they are scarce and usually become available through puzzle auctions and the secondary market rather than general retail.