The tale of Tangle Toys and how it came to be is one twisted good yarn that takes us to the four corners of the globe . . . and beyond!

It takes a person looking at life from a different angle to invent a toy like Tangle, and Richard X. Zawitz, the colorful creator of the source of "Twisted Good Fun," is that kind of guy. A child of the 60's who grew up in conservative Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Zawitz discovered his talent as an artist as a young man and hit the road to find his muse. After graduation from the University of Hawaii with a major in Fine Arts Sculpture and sub-majors in Asian Art History and Asian Philosophy, with an emphasis on Chinese Taoism, Zen Buddhism, and Tantric (Cosmic) Art, Zawitz hit the road for a major change in both attitude and latitude.

His search lead him to the Far East and Kyoto, Japan. There he studied wood and stone carving in the ancient traditions. The search for more cosmic enlightenment -- and fun -- took Zawitz high into the mountains of Nepal and to the legendary land of Tibet. His introduction to Taoist and Buddhist cultures and philosophies opened his mind and his eyes. One of the things he discovered was the Tibetan Infinite Knot. It delighted, intrigued and amused him all at the same time. There was something about it that captivated and inspired him artistically. Zawitz began creating and recreating the Tibetan Infinite Knot shape in what seemed like an infinite series of sculptures in all manner of materials. It became an obsession that drove him day and night.

Zawitz's very dreams were filled with the shape and form of the Tibetan Infinite Knot. But in his dreams the knot was always twisting, moving and transforming, changing into cool new infinite knot shapes and even colors. Embarking on a mission to recreate the same fluid, twisting, swiveling, magically transforming movement from his dreams took Zawitz from scientists to engineers, from students at Asian design centers to the Dali Lama himself! The breakthrough came when Zawitz was using his arms to simulate the kind of motion he was looking for in front of a doctor on the Hong Kong ferry. The doctor's comment -- that the body's ball-and-socket design might work best -- gave him the clue that he sought and within a week the first true Tangle was born.


Finally Zawitz had a sculpture he could manipulate into the different shapes and designs he saw in his dreams. But what he discovered when he started to twist and turn the piece into different shapes was that it was fun to do. It was more than just fun, it was downright hard to stop. As much as he liked looking at each new shape of his transforming sculpture, Zawitz liked transforming it even more. And it wasn't just irresistible to him alone. Everyone who came to visit his studio was drawn to his new art, and they couldn't keep their hands off it, twisting, swiveling, "Tangling" it into shapes even he hadn't dreamed of. And everyone wanted one of their own.

Pretty soon all Zawitz was doing was making personal editions of his new art piece for everyone he knew. Then he began getting commissions from people who had seen or heard about the piece from those people. Everyone was saying the same thing, they just loved "playing" with his art piece. It made them feel good to manipulate it into different shapes. They loved having it in their hands, it was a great stress reliever, it kept them from smoking, it made them smile, took their minds off their troubles. It was then that Richard X. Zawitz, artist, became Richard X. Zawitz, toy inventor. He found a plastics factory in Asia that could deliver to his demanding specifications at an affordable price, he had molds made, and he began to manufacture his piece. To help let people know what to do with the unusual plastic "thing," he named it Tangle and dubbed the art of playing with it "Tangling."

It wasn't long before toy distributors all over the world began to discover the Tangle and started selling them to both kids and adults. Tangles were made in all sizes and colors, with all manner of designs applied. Puzzle Tangles appeared. Corporate logo Tangles were ordered and distributed by the world's biggest brand names. Even Mattel's Nickelodeon Toys licensed a version of Tangle. Over 50 million Tangles have now been sold internationally and every second of every day someone is Tangling somewhere on planet earth. Tangle is as popular today as the day it was introduced because only Tangle has the MAGIC IN THE MOTION that satisfies mankind's irresistible urge to Tangle. No matter where they live, what they do, who they are, or what their background is, the Twisted Good Fun of Tangle is experienced universally.

The original inspiration for Tangle® came through this unique limited edition work of art.
Influenced by Taoism, nature, science and world art, Richard X. Zawitz created THE INFINITE SCULPTURE. This sculpture represents Zawitz's attempt to unify the forces and forms of nature and humanity through a single work of art. THE INFINITE SCULPTURE synthesizes form and void, solid and liquid, and heavy and light. The sculpture's universal appeal comes from mathematical and symmetrical perfection. THE INFINITE SCULPTURE reaches this state through the examination of both Western and Eastern cultures. THE INFINITE SCULPTURE consists of 20 interconnected 90-degree segments, or quarter circles. The ancient Eastern cultures revered the circle as the embodiment of perfection, and honored the belief that curves represent positive energy.

Richard X. Zawitz graduated of the University of Hawaii in 1972, with majors in Fine Arts, Art History and Asian Philosophy. Mr. Zawitz has made it his life's work to seek an essential energy form that would manifest universal appeal to all people of all cultures. After graduating from the University of Hawaii, Zawitz chose to study with sculpture masters in Asia, followed by a year of apprenticeship with traditional Buddha carvers in Kyoto, Japan. Zawitz traveled throughout Asia seeking the wisdom and knowledge of masters. A remarkable epiphany occurred, and Zawitz decided to mass produce his work of art in plastic so that as many people as possible could enjoy its endless creative manifestation. Unknown to Zawitz then, THE INFINITE SCULPTURE became a thriving business that to this date continues to produce miniaturized plastic versions. This version, available to the masses, is called the Tangle® and is sold worldwide . Over 60 million Tangle® toys have been sold since 1982. All are copyrighted works of art. Richard X. Zawitz continues to produce stone and wood sculptures in his San Francisco studio.