Rubik's Cube puzzle in packaging designed by Erno Rubik
Object No. 2018/91/1
The Rubik's Cube, a mechanical puzzle, was invented by Erno Rubik, born 1944 in Budapest, Hungary. At the time he was working as a professor of architecture at the Budapest Academy of Applied Arts and searching for a way to teach his students about 3D movement. His first cube was made of wood, rubber bands, paper clips and brightly coloured stickers. It was patented in 1975 and first sold as 'Buvos Kocka' or the 'Magic Cube' in a Budapest toy shop in 1977. It was later licenced to and distributed widely by the Ideal Toy Company, who renamed it 'Rubik's Cube' and began exporting in May 1980. It was an instant sensation, becoming the world's bestselling toy, winning Toy of the Year in 1980 and 1981 and going on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Demand was so great that millions of imitation Rubik's Cubes were made and sold. Solving the Rubik's Cube is no easy feat as there are 43 252 003 274 489 856 000 ways it can be scrambled. Guides to solving the Rubik's Cube were published and International Rubik's Championships began in 1982, with the winning 'speed cuber' solving the puzzle in 22.95 seconds. Alysha Buss, Assistant Curator, July 2018
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Summary
Object Statement
Puzzle, 'Rubik's Cube', inside packaging, plastic, designed by Erno Rubik, Budapest, Hungary, manufactured by Ideal Leisure P/L Australia, made in Taiwan, c. 1985
Physical Description
A cube shaped puzzle with six sides in its original packaging. Each side comprises nine stickers of a solid colour - white, red, blue, orange, green and yellow, respectively. The puzzle can be twisted and the stickers moved vertically or horizontally. The packaging comprises a clear plastic lid and black plastic base, held together with a black and gold-coloured paper label.
DIMENSIONS
Height
80 mm
Diameter
80 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
This Rubik's Cube and packaging was made under licence by Ideal Leisure P/L Australia in Taiwan during the 1980s.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 2009
Acquisition Date
27 September 2018
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