Pytheas Navigation Box • Collection

Gaaboard Collage

Ancient seafaring routes transformed into handcrafted heritage boxes – where history becomes tangible.

How pre-orders work

Explore the full series.
  1. Close-up of a metal P initial used for the P edition

    1.Reserve your letter

    Choose your limited edition: P, Y, T, H, E, A, S or Full Series. Each box is numbered and certified.

  2. Hand-cutting a relief map of the British Isles in the studio

    2.Crafted in our studio

    … with wood, leather, limestone, velvet & textiles, plus the region's extra element.

  3. Stacked parcels with vintage-style labels ready for dispatch

    3.Delivery in waves

    Pre-orders ship in release windows. You'll get regular progress updates until your box arrives.

Where Ancient Routes Become Tangible Stories

In 325 BCE, Pytheas of Massalia departed on a journey that would redefine the edges of the known world. He sailed beyond the Pillars of Heracles, charted the Atlantic coasts, and reached the mythical Ultima Thule—a feat that inspired centuries of exploration.

Each Pytheas Navigation Box is a fragment of this legendary voyage, crafted to hold in your hands.

We don't recreate history—we translate it into objects you can touch, study, and treasure. Every box in this collection combines laser-engraved wood reliefs showing the actual coastlines Pytheas navigated, premium leather panels bearing the original Greek nomenclature of each region, authentic geological elements from each landfall point, and historical cartography fragments from ancient and early modern sources.

These are not replicas. They are interpretations—designed with the same care a 4th-century BCE navigator would have brought to charting uncharted waters.

A Journey in Six Regions

The Pytheas Navigation Box Series follows the explorer's route chronologically. Currently available:

Each regional edition is limited to the letters P-Y-T-H-E-A-S (7 boxes per region, individually numbered). Once complete, no further editions will be produced.

Not Just a Box – A Journey

Each Pytheas edition box is designed according to the golden ratio, where ancient wisdom meets modern craftsmanship. The visible window follows φ (phi = 1.618), creating a compositional harmony that echoes Greek mathematical principles.

Every material is chosen for historical authenticity—no synthetic substitutes. Built to last generations, not seasons.

👑 VIP COLLECTOR'S EDITION – THE COMPLETE JOURNEY

For those who want to experience Pytheas's entire odyssey in one masterwork, we offer the VIP Collector's Edition—a premium grand composition that unites all routes into a single, museum-scale piece.

What makes the VIP Edition unique:

  • All six regions combined in one expansive relief map – two interlocking panels (307.5×380 mm each inner composition, 320×400 mm each with frame) creating the complete 615×380 mm journey
  • Complete geological collection from every landfall point along the route
  • Master cartography panel integrating Pytheas's journey with historical map overlays
  • Handcrafted wooden display frame with brass corner detailing
  • Signed certificate of authenticity + archival documentation of materials
  • Only ONE edition per letter (P-Y-T-H-E-A-S) – 7 pieces worldwide, ever

This is not a product. It's a legacy object—designed for serious collectors, cultural institutions, and those who understand that some stories deserve to be held in their entirety.

The VIP Edition is made to order and requires 6-8 weeks of studio work.

The Philosophy Behind the Work

At Gaaboard Collage, we believe cultural heritage shouldn't be locked behind glass. It should be part of everyday life—something you can hold, rotate in the light, and share with the next generation.

Pytheas didn't just observe the world. He navigated it, documented it, and brought it home to Massalia. We're doing the same with these boxes—bringing ancient journeys into contemporary spaces.

This is slow craft for people who value what endures.