Epicycle Scribe Ceramic Dish: Four-Leaf Clover

Circles riding on circles, drawing a shape.

Fix a small circle to the rim of a larger one and turn both, following a point on the smallest. Ancient astronomers used these epicycles to predict the wandering of the planets in the night sky. Centuries later, Joseph Fourier showed why they work so well: almost any repeating shape can be built by adding together circular motions of different sizes and speeds.

Four-Leaf Clover. Four leaves, each traced by the same chain of turning circles.

Who it’s for

The circles that once tracked the planets are now Fourier analysis, the idea behind audio equalizers, MRI scanners and the compression in MP3s and JPEGs. Made for electrical and audio engineers, physicists, astronomers and anyone who loves finding hidden patterns.

For a nightstand, dresser or desk, and an easy gift for anyone who loves a good idea.

The Ceramic Dish

• Ceramic, with a wavy scalloped edge and a gold-colored rim.
• About 11.5 cm (4½ in) across and 1.7 cm (¾ in) deep: sized for keys, jewelry and the small things that gather on your desk.
• Hand wash. The gold rim is not microwave or dishwasher safe.

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Every Zenzicube design is grown from a real piece of mathematics. Find more in the Mathematical Menagerie.