The original idea of slide-together objects is due to George Hart. I first adapted it to playing cards, producing a complete set of real objects corresponding to the archimedean polyhedra. Using my softwares and prgoramming tools, I was then able to output a description suitable for a 3D printer. This sculpture is an example of what can be done. Other versions, still virtual, are also visible on my Shapeways page (fdecomite).
www.lifl.fr/~decomite