Saucer Run - Rolling Ball Sculpture #358

Dimensions: 21"H × 18"W × 15"D
Tracks: Two
Operation: Manual marble release
Marbles: Colorful 1-inch glass marbles
Material: Handcrafted stainless steel

Saucer Run is a compact desktop Rolling Ball Sculpture measuring 21 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 15 inches deep. It features two tracks, a manual marble release, and colorful 1-inch glass marbles. The entire sculpture is handcrafted from stainless steel and does not require a motor or electricity.

To operate Saucer Run, simply collect the marbles from the bottom by hand and place them into the marble queue at the top. Pressing the handle allows you to release one marble, two marbles, or all of them at the same time, giving you control over how much activity is happening throughout the sculpture.

The first track features a split tall spiral made up of two vertical sections separated by a horizontal track. An additional spiral wraps horizontally around that middle section, giving the marbles several changes in direction as they work their way down.

The second track includes a series of back-and-forth track sections that lead into a shallow stainless steel collector plate - the “saucer” that inspired the name Saucer Run. The marbles circle the saucer until they lose momentum and fall through the opening in the center. From there, they travel around the sculpture once or twice before reaching the bottom.

Both tracks eventually meet at the same location from opposing directions. This causes the marbles to collide and tick back and forth with a Newton’s cradle-like effect, creating some great visual action at the bottom. The movement changes depending on how many marbles are released and how closely they follow one another.

Its compact size and manual operation make Saucer Run easy to display almost anywhere. Since it does not need an electrical outlet, it can be placed on a desk, table, shelf, or countertop and moved whenever needed.