Why puzzles are better in wood Why puzzles are better in wood
By Tony Watts - Editor - 21/05/2007
Jigsaws, of course, never started off life as the cardboard cut-outs we more commonly see today. Going back to the very beginnings – around 250 years ago – they were educational maps painstakingly mounted on hardwood, and the borders of each country cut around using a marquetry saw.
Over the years, the subjects covered widened hugely, and eventually adults too started to enjoy the ultimate “recyclable” pastime; but while the arrival of cardboard made them more accessible to a wider audience it pushed the delights of “the real thing” into the background.
But all that has changed with the rise and rise of Wentworth Wooden Jigsaws, which have put the magic back into jigsaws in a big way over the last 12 years since they have been creating high quality products in their Cotswolds factory.
So what is so special about them? At heart, the real difference is that they really capture the spirit of the original puzzles – hardly surprising when they actually make many Victorian replica puzzles, to the same original stanrds of workmanship and using the same tricky cut patterns and the unique “whimsy” pieces that are such a joy to work with when you are completing a jigsaw.
These intricate figural shapes reflect the theme of the image, from ship’s wheels and seagulls in marine puzzles to paint brushes and palettes in fine art puzzles.
Each puzzle is, amazingly, created individually. Order one from their large library of patterns and they will cut the puzzle. They will even create a puzzle out of an image which you supply. They then mount your image on a 3mm thick wooden board (from a sustainable source!) and cut it with lasers using a pattern to suit the image, usually containing special Whimsy pieces.
Why not treat yourself or someone special to a hefty dose of relaxation and fun or find out more about how to create the perfect puzzle gift from your own photos!
And have you ever thought of raising money for your favourite cause with a special edition jigsaw? Read the story in this section to find out more. And to find out more about Wentworth's authentic wooden puzzles, click on the link below.
Wentworth also operates a mail order service for those without internet access through their quarterly newsletter or brochure. If you would like them to send a copy of The Whimsy selection to someone just let them know. Every quarter they select a charity and make a donation to that charity for every puzzle sold.
And if you'd like to see a real craft in action, there's a chance to go to the factory and see how the puzzles are made - from the image right through to the finished puzzle. You will also be able to buy a wide range of puzzles at discounted rates. Open from 10-3pm on the 23rd June, 2007.
Contacting Wentworth
If you'd like to know more about Wentworth's unique range of wooden puzzles, you can click onto the link below or contact them during UK office hours (8:30am – 5:00pm GMT) on the following numbers:
From the UK: 01666 840 033
International: +44 1666 840 033
By email: customerservice@jigsaws.co.uk
Out of UK hours order hotline:
From the UK: 0800 731 1662
From the USA: 1-866-312-2216
By post:
The Wentworth Wooden Jigsaw Company Ltd
Pinkney
Malmesbury
Wiltshire UK
SN16 0NX