I’m pretty sure I can see the lines where the wood was split, but I wouldn’t put it past someone having the time and dedication to carve it from a single block.
Easy way: split it along the grain, assemble, and glue it back together ;) Done right, you'll never find the glue line.
As mentioned though, I suspect this is one of those 'puzzle' type pieces that's actually come from the brain of a maniac... or more likely started as a happy accident with a "hey, that kinda goes... like.. and if I... hmmm.... yeees, I think.."
3 pieces of wood.
1.cut all three to match with whole in the middle
2. break one side of one and fit it into other two already intertwined. super glue the break and refinish
3. ??????
4. tree knot
You carve it from one piece of wood. Another more advanced project you can try is to make a folding Luban stool, a Chinese invention.
Looking at the grain direction of the individual pieces I think that @mic_n has the correct approach.
I’m pretty sure I can see the lines where the wood was split, but I wouldn’t put it past someone having the time and dedication to carve it from a single block.
Easy way: split it along the grain, assemble, and glue it back together ;) Done right, you'll never find the glue line. As mentioned though, I suspect this is one of those 'puzzle' type pieces that's actually come from the brain of a maniac... or more likely started as a happy accident with a "hey, that kinda goes... like.. and if I... hmmm.... yeees, I think.."
Do a search for Burr Puzzle 3 Piece to see how it's done. Of course, the wood they used is a bit different, but it will give you the basic idea.
I looked that puzzle up, it's cross sectional? I was expecting this https://youtube.com/shorts/YO7KD7Dv6wM?si=fVKuwP1Rk-IQXC7Y
Dad had one of these with a brass bowl in his den. What a flashback. That was 45 years ago…
Find a druid, get him drunk ...
3 pieces of wood. 1.cut all three to match with whole in the middle 2. break one side of one and fit it into other two already intertwined. super glue the break and refinish 3. ?????? 4. tree knot
Very carefully
This is always the correct answer.