Puzzle special: little pieces of art
Did you know that the puzzle was invented in England in 1766? Engraver and map dealer John Spilsbury stuck a map of Great Britain on a wooden board and sawed it along the boundary lines of the various counties. Players then had to try to reassemble the card. Because puzzling seem to be back in town during these bizarre times, I have listed some gorgeous puzzles for you. Whether you already liked to find the right pieces as a child, or if you are just discovering the trend, with these small works of art you will be happy for a few hours.
One of my favorite buildings is La Muralla Roja in Calpe, Spain. "The Red Wall" was designed by Ricardo Bofill and consists of a series of interlocking stairs, platforms and bridges, painted in different shades of blue and red that blend or contrast with the sky and the surrounding landscape. The building itself looks a lot like a puzzle, but at the Slowdown Studio you can also shop it in real puzzle format.
La Muralla Roja Puzzle, www.slowdownstudio.com
Something to celebrate? This colorful, seventies inspired puzzle by Piecework Puzzles is guaranteed to make you the life of the party. On the webshop you also find other, super stylish puzzles, as it’s the goal of founders Jena and Rachel to create puzzles that are just as enjoyable to look at as they are to compose. Something we can only cheer for!
Dusk, dawn or night? Whatever time of day is your favorite, these Printworks puzzles remind you of the ever-changing beauty of the sky. With 500 pieces per puzzle, you are guaranteed to keep your fingers occupied from sunrise to sunset. Also nice: buy all three immediately and hang them on the wall in nice frames. Eye catcher alert!
Dusk, Dawn or Night Puzzle, www.printworksmarket.com
Looking for a challenge? Then you just go for 1000 pieces! This puzzle from the Italian Clementoni is a replica of The Great Wave, a woodcut by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai from the 1830s. If you look very carefully, as you should while doing puzzles, you might even spot Mount Fuji in the background.
Clementoni Puzzle Hokusai, www.bol.com
Other great puzzles for on the wall are the ones from DOIY. Choose Michelangelo's David, the leaf of a Monstera or a globe and puzzle on the two sets of adhesive sheets that come with it. This way, the puzzle pieces stick together and you can then frame it as a work of art.
DOIY Slow Puzzle Monstera, www.doiydesign.com
Are you in on the puzzle hype? Join the conversation on Instagram.