The Oloid (Brushed Brass)

Discovered in 1929 by German sculptor, inventor, and mathematician Paul Schatz, the Oloid is an intriguing geometric shape with amazing mathematic and aesthetic properties. Its surface is developable, meaning that patches of the surface can be flattened into a plane. When rolling, it develops its entire surface, which allows every point of the surface to touch the plane at some point. The Oloid is a functional shape that can be used for water treatment, as a propeller in navigation, or as a stirrer in biotechnology.

Although its shape is curved, the Oloid moves in a perfect straight line. And although its shape is not round, it rolls. Unlike most axial symmetric objects— like a cylinder of sphere— with a center of mass that performs a linear motion, the Oloid's center of mass performs a meander motion. So while it rolls, every single point of the Oloid's surface touches the ground. That is because the surface area is identical to a sphere of the same radius.

Perfect for thinkers, makers, visionaries, learners, and more, this collection of intriguing desk sculptures connects us with the basic elements and the core of the universe.