| Mandala | |
|---|---|
| [[Image:{{{image}}}|225px]] | |
| Manufacturer | Tom Kuhn |
| Release date | 1987 (original retail release) |
| Shape | Imperial Butterfly (for certain models) |
| Color | Laminated wood with various laser-carved designs |
| Weight | N/A |
| Dimensions | Diameter: 55.6mm Width: 33mm String Gap Width: 4.8mm |
| Material | Wood with metal axle |
| Bearing size | Wooden axle sleeve |
| Response system | None |
The Mandala is one of the longest produced models by Tom Kuhn. Like the No Jive 3-in-1, the Mandala has a replaceable wooden axle, but unlike the stamped logos of the No Jive, the Mandalas have an intricate laser engraved decoration. The first design was the Starburst introduced at the Smithsonian Institution in 1980. The other two original designs were the Filigree, and the Snowflake, and all three were released to the public in 1987. The original Mandalas were considered to be Imperial in shape as the engraving was on the curved face of the yo-yo. Along with that, there were a handful of promotional Mandalas made as a custom order for the clothing store chain Abercrombie & Fitch.
The original Mandalas were re-released after BC/What's Next Mfg took over production and some were produced in the Butterfly configuration. The BC/What's Next Mandalas have a much shallower engraving with a slightly smaller overall diameter when compared to the originals.
The Celtic Mandala and the Quatle Mandala yo-yos were released in 2001 and were designed by Matthew Carter, best known in the online community as "Scarecrow". The Celtic Mandala featured an intricate Celtic knotwork design and was sold exclusively through Dave's Skill Toys. The Celtic Mandalas came in two different designs and in both Imperial and Butterlfy configuarations. The Quatle Mandala featured a Central American design and was also offered in both Imperial and Butterfly configurations. There is also a one-of-a-kind Celtic Mandala upgraded with BPT response, a ball bearing axle, and an adjustable string gap for David Hall by Tom Van Dan Elzen, the head of Playmaxx. It is on exhibit at the Museum of Yo-Yo History.
In the 1996 "Doctor Who" telefilm, a modified Sunburst Mandala yo-yo can be seen during a sequence where the character Chang Lee is going through the Doctor's bag of items.
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