I do wooden jigsaw puzzles and take pictures of them.
Basis, 388 pieces. This brand is definitely into experimentation. Here that comes in the form of moveable components! Otherwise a fairly standard Wentworth-ish puzzle with a few pieces that are a bit too small. 3/5
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| this little fellow probably shouldn't exist |
Liberty, 729 pieces. Old-timey image, lots of new Liberty whimsies--at least new to me, and some new styles as well, like the partial Buddha (maybe supposed to be tilted on the ground?) and the elaborate multipiece horse done in thin strips, as well as nearly-connected whimsies like the train and its nearby smoke plume. Two alternate solutions that I found add to the interest. Overall, a lot to like. 4/5
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| multipiece boat and pavilion |
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| elephant and rider |
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| leaning Buddha and bear |
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| more bear and multipiece dancer |
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| bull |
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| mermaid on unusual shell background |
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| many leaning structures |
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| a tilting windmill and a Viking ship |
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| multipiece dancer |
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| Taj Mahal |
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| horse and curliques |
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| Sphinx, sextant, camel |
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| alternate solution |
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| scary face |
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| peacock |
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| another alternate solution |
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| train with steam not quite touching |
Basis Wood, 138 pieces. This is a really interesting puzzle with multi-thickness pieces. I don't think it was entirely successful--the thinnest was really too thin for maximum haptic plesure and the thickest was thick enough that I had to do a bit of shoving to get the pieces where they should go--but the experimentation is welcome and the price low enough to make this an easy recommendation if you like something a bit different. Because of the piece shapes/irregular edge, this packs a difficulty punch well above its piece count. 3/5
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| my attempt to show something of the varying thicknesses |
Wentworth, 500 pieces. Whimsy designs often trade in cultural stereotypes; this time we get a look at what British designers think about Americans/New Yorkers. I was most struck by the presence of the policeman. In more puzzle-specific notes, an unusual engraved non-whimsy is also coupled with a human whimsy. 3/5
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| three taxis on upper left; policeman down & to their right; apparently Americans/New Yorkers are really into the saxophone, as it appears both on its own and with a human whimsy; also shown: hot dog, hamburger, baseball, baseball cap, football, and almighty dollar sign. And for some reason, possibly Groucho Marx? |
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| duck created only by engraving--either being given or refused food |
Wentworth, 500 pieces. A very representative Wentworth with nice colors and some larger themed whimsies. 3/5
Fathom Puzzles, 200 pieces. Another really intriguing entry in Fathom's lineup, with the quasi-Teaser structure. I had a conversation with my son about whether one could do a computer-guided jigsaw to get the really tight cuts that make hand-cut so special; he thought it would be cost-prohibitive. But people are still doing interesting things with laser-cut. This doesn't quite have the haptics of a Teaser, but it does have the clever dropout structure. 3/5
Liberty, 547 pieces. A special creation for a friend who kindly sent a copy--it shows how smooth Liberty's backs are these days but otherwise doesn't much stand out. Note back engraving on a couple of the whimsies. 3/5
