Cool Gift of the Day
Monday, January 07, 2008
What it is:
A hand-cut, Victorian-style puzzle featuring animal-shaped pieces called "whimsies".
Why we love it:
Queen Victoria might have played with a puzzle exactly like this one. Made in England, this true Victorian replica features animal-shaped pieces called "whimsies" (because Victorian cutters included them on a whim). The whimsies are generally related to the subject of the puzzle image, e.g. a wooden jigsaw puzzle of your favorite pet would feature animal whimsies; a wooden jigsaw puzzle of your garden would feature plants and tools. The intricate image on this puzzle is a detail from William Morris’s Forest tapestry, found in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and features animal-shaped whimsies. The puzzle is handcrafted from Forestry-certified wood composite and the finished 250-piece puzzle is 14" x 10".