(C) Eric built an Eiffel Tower replica from TOOTHPICKS | Guinness World Records
NAPERVILLE, IL — While most people use toothpicks for their intended purpose, Stan Clavell saw them as the foundation for a world record. After months of painstaking labor, Clavell has officially entered the history books by constructing the world’s tallest toothpick sculpture, a structural marvel made entirely of tiny wooden slivers and adhesive.
The Architecture of Persistence
The project was not born in a professional studio, but in the quiet corners of Clavell’s home. Due to the sheer scale of the tower, Clavell had to engineer the structure in modular sections. These individual pieces were later transported to Naperville for a public viewing event, where they were meticulously assembled into their final, towering form.
The statistics behind the build are staggering. Using nothing but standard toothpicks and glue, Clavell spent several months hunched over his workbench. His motivation stemmed from a desire to push the boundaries of fragile materials.
"I wanted to try making something similar with a sturdier material, but I realized that toothpicks, being much smaller and weaker, would be far more challenging to work with," Clavell explained. "As I began creating smaller sculptures, I started to develop a 'feel' for the wood, which eventually launched the journey toward building this tower."
The Physical Toll of Art
Breaking a world record is rarely a painless endeavor. For Clavell, the challenge was as much physical as it was mental. The repetitive nature of the work—placing thousands of individual toothpicks with surgical precision—required him to remain in a cramped, bent-over position for hours at a time.
"My back started to ache intensely from working in a hunched position for so long," Clavell admitted. "Physically, it was very painful, but despite the strain, it was a truly joyful and rewarding experience."
A Message to Future Challengers
Now that his name is etched in the Guinness World Records, Clavell remains humble about his achievement. He acknowledges that records are often made to be broken and expresses a deep sense of kinship with anyone brave enough to attempt to surpass his height.
"I don't know how long this record will stand, but if someone manages to break it by gluing toothpicks one by one, that would be truly incredible," he said. "I would be proud of their willingness to invest that much effort and energy. They would certainly deserve the title, and I would have nothing but respect for the person who breaks my record."
The Legacy of the Tower
Clavell’s skyscraper stands as a reminder that greatness often lies in the details. By taking the smallest, most overlooked household item and multiplying it by tens of thousands, he created a monument to human focus. For now, the tower remains a symbol of what can be achieved when "small and weak" materials are backed by a strong and persistent will.
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