Tag Archives: fantasy

Puzzle: Hogwarts Castle, Harry Potter


Size: 550 pieces
Producer: Mattel (I believe)
Notes: I do not have a record of the producer of the puzzle as I do not have the box anymore. A clarification is welcome – if you have any clue as to the details regarding this puzzle, I would much appreciate that information.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or simply Hogwarts is the primary setting for the first six books of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, with each book lasting the equivalent of one school year. It is a fictional boarding school of magic for witches and wizards between the ages of eleven and seventeen.

Rowling has suggested that she may have inadvertently taken the name from the hogwort plant (Croton capitatus), which she had seen at Kew Gardens some time before writing the Harry Potter series.

In the novels, Hogwarts is located somewhere in Scotland. The school has numerous charms and spells on and around it that make it impossible for a Muggle  (i.e., a non-magical person) to locate it. Such people cannot see the school; rather, they see only ruins and several warnings of danger. The castle has extensive grounds with sloping lawns, flowerbeds and vegetable patches, a loch (called The Black Lake), a large dense forest (called the Forbidden Forest), several greenhouses and other outbuildings, and a full-size Quidditch pitch. There is also an owlery, which houses all the owls owned by the school and those owned by students. It should be noted that some rooms in the school tend to “move around”, and so do the stairs in the grand staircase. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Fairy Tales


Size: 54 large pieces
Dimensions: 38 cm x 61 cm
Producer: Djeco, Discovery Puzzle series, 4-6 years old
Notes: All around one big picture in the centre, lots of things to find! Start by putting all the pieces of the puzzle together, then have fun finding items from the border in the picture in the centre. [Puzzle box]

It took me about 5-10 minutes to assemble in a leisurely pace. I think it would be great for kids. There are lots of fairy tale characters – witch, vampire, ghost, dragon, demon, a variety of royal representation, animals, and monsters. I shall save this one for descendants.

Puzzle: Hidden Pictures by Larry Evans


Size: 550 pieces
Dimensions: 45.72 cm x 60.96 cm
Producer: Great American Puzzle Factory
ISBN: 1-878729-27-6
Notes: Find the 49 Hidden Objects!

As the brave knight rescues the fair maiden from the horrible dragon, he is unaware of the hidden objects that surround him.

Hidden in the picture are:

Saddle, Giraffe, Indian Chief, Hippo, Two lions, Shark, Whale, Brontosaurus, Chicken, Jigsaw puzzle piece, Egret, Panda, Rabbit, Bear, Dob, Parrot, Ostrich, Skeleton, Pliers, Hammer, Blacksmith, swan, Lobster, Weathervane, Walrus, Toucan (bird with a long beak), Eagle, Ladybug, Mouse, Frog, Bell, Bride, Bull, Unicorn, Skier, Baseball, bald headed man, Alligator, Suit of armor, Goldfish, Ballet dancer, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Clown policeman, Woolly Mammoth, Antique auto, Baby, Two acrobats on the flying trapeze, Turkey, Hat. [Puzzle box]

Puzzle: Wizard by Keith Birdsong


Size: 550 pieces
Dimensions: 61cm x 46cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, # 2333-33
Artist: Keith Birdsong
Original: photo
Notes: A self-taught artist, Keith Birdsong has illustrated several hundred book jackets for publishers such as Pocket Books, New American Library, Harlequin, Scholastic, Berkley, Random House and so on… His works have encompassed science fiction, fantasy, action adventure, suspense, horror, young adult, romance, and licensing. He is very well known for his work with Paramount and Pocket’s “Star Trek” books, posters and The Hamilton Collection collector’s plate series. Keith has also worked on many assignments with the U.S. Postal Service which have included 13 postage stamps and many combative collectable’s…one of which is on display in the Smithsonian in D.C. [Artworks Illustration site]

Puzzle: Twilight Tempest by Ed Beard Jr.


Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 61cm x 46cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, # 1108-21
Artist: Ed Beard Jr.: “Fantasy Art is far more than just the end result of a visual image, it’s the journey one takes to get there. Creating the unique tangible original art work made from hand Craftsmanship is what completes that journey!”
Box: photo
Notes: The Wizard and Dragon head out into the night to engage in battle against those who would attack their castle.  Their night scene comes alive with the setting sun. [Ed Beard Jr. site]

A tempest is a violent storm. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Ruslan and Ludmilla


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 48cm in diameter
Producer:  Falcon, Skaska series
Art: RUSSIAN LACQUER, LEGENDS and FAIRY TALES.  Russian Lacquer Miniature Painting, an important 20th century art form, originates in the four small villages of Palekh, Kholui, Fedoskino and Mstera in the U.S.S.R. where it has been flourishing since the 1920s. Lacquered miniatures, as bright as the feathers of the legendary Firebird, take the poetic art of the extraordinarily talented artists of these villages to the far corners of the world.

The paintings are inspired by Russian legends and fairy tales and are executed on a specially treated papier mâché. The boxes themselves are a feat of technical skill and beauty before a single stroke of the brush is applied. They range in size from a tiny casket no more than 1″ x 1″ upon which an entire story unfolds, to large jewelry boxes, plates and panels.

The colours used are rich oranges, reds and yellows, brilliant blues and opulent gold on backgrounds of jet black or red lacquer. Each village has its own distinct and unique techniques.

The paintings reproduced on these puzzles are taken from the book: RUSSIAN LACQUER, LEGENDS and FAIRY TALES© and used with the kind permission of the publisher and author, Lucy Maxym, noted authority on Russian lacquer, of Manhasset, New York, U.S.A. Skaska means fairy tale in Russian. [Puzzle box insert]

Notes: “Ruslan and Ludmilla” is a monumental poem by the great Alexander Pushkin. A sumptuous banquet is given by the Grand Duke Svietosar in honour of his beautiful daughter Ludmilla. During the height of the festivities, Ludmilla mysteriously disappears, abducted by the evil sorceror, Chernomor. After numerous trials, her suitor, the Knight Ruslan, rescues Ludmilla and brings her back to her home, where they are married and live happily every after. The scene shown on this puzzle depicts Ludmilla walking in the magnificent gardens surrounding Chernomor’s castle, awaiting her rescue by Ruslan. [Puzzle box]

Puzzle: Princess of Light by Josephine Wall


Size: 600 pieces
Dimensions: 60.96cm in diameter
Producer:  Rose Art, MoonGlow series
Artist: Josephine Wall is an English born artist who currently resides in the seaside community of Dorset, England. She specializes in mystical, surreal-like, fantasy paintings. [Bio on Josephine Wall site]

Notes: With hair of glistening crystal the princess revels in her task of bringing light to the world. Shining brightly her precious orb reflects her earthly guise, attracting the attention of some passing moths. Flowers burst into bloom excited by her life giving light. The princess travels on, bringing light to even the darkest corners of our world. [Josephine Wall UK site]

Puzzle: The Unicorn by Myles Pinkney


Size: 550 pieces
Dimensions: 61cm x 46cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series
Artist: Myles Pinkney
Box: photo
Notes: A unicorn (from Latin unus ‘one’ and cornu ‘horn’) is a mythological creature described as having a long, straight horn extending from its forehead. Though the modern popular image of the unicorn is sometimes that of a horse differing only in the horn, the traditional unicorn also has a billy-goat beard, a lion’s tail, and cloven hooves—these distinguish it from a horse. Marianna Mayer has observed (The Unicorn and the Lake), “The unicorn is the only fabulous beast that does not seem to have been conceived out of human fears. In even the earliest references he is fierce yet good, selfless yet solitary, but always mysteriously beautiful. He could be captured only by unfair means, and his single horn was said to neutralize poison.” [Wiki]

Save

Puzzle: Sanctuary by Sheila Wolk


Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 73cm x 48.6cm
Producer: Impressions, Sure-Lox
Artist: Sheila Wolk
Painting: photo
Notes: I wish the artist’s site contained some information about the painting itself and the inspiration for it. Unfortunately, the designers appear to be more concerned with protecting the images from being stolen by placing the artist name in large letters over the top of the paintings.

A sanctuary is the consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar. In modern parlance, the term is used to mean any place of safety.

In Europe, Christian churches were sometimes built on land considered as a particularly ‘holy spot’, perhaps where a miracle or martyrdom had taken place or where a holy person was buried. The place, and therefore the church built there, was considered to have been sanctified (made holy) by what happened there. In modern times, the Roman Catholic Church has continued this practice by placing in the altar of each church, when it is consecrated for use, a box (the sepulcrum) containing relics of a saint. The relics box is removed when the church is taken out of use as a church. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Fortress of Dragons by Matt Stawicki


Size: 550 pieces
Dimensions: 61cm x 46cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, # 2333-34
Artist: Matt Stawicki
Notes: Fortress is a series of fantasy novels by science fiction and fantasy author C. J. Cherryh, published by HarperCollins. They are set in a medieval fantasy world with a 15th century feel and feature magic, sorcery, medieval warfare, politics and other elements common to the High Fantasy subgenre. [Wiki]

The fourth book of the series – Fortress of Dragons – was published in 2000. Matt Stawicki did the cover for this book.

Puzzle: The Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers, Frodo and Sam


Size: 500 pieces, 1 missing
Dimensions: 61cm x 92cm
Producer: Irwin Toy, Wrebbit, Perfalock series
Box: photo
Notes: Perfalock, the first puzzle that goes anywhere without going to pieces! Make it, move it, mount it, and it won’t fall apart. Precisely crafted out of flexible foam, the pieces fit together so perfectly you can barely see the seams. Its unique backing material means that the puzzles stay together without requiring messy glue. Now you can create your own unique Lord of the Ringss poster and hang it on your wall as you would a traditional poster. [Puzzle box]

Puzzle: Daughter of the Deep, by Josephine Wall


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 33.02cm x 48.26cm
Producer:  Rose Art, Jewel Scapes series
Artist: Josephine Wall is an English born artist who currently resides in the seaside community of Dorset, England. She specializes in mystical, surreal-like, fantasy paintings. [Bio on Josephine Wall site]

Notes: Mortals hold seashells to their ears to hear the sounds of the seas and imagine life in the deep waters below. Perhaps a mermaid would look into a seashell to see and hear the sights and sounds of the earth above. All of us can embark on a magical voyage through the universe using our imaginations to carry us along. [Josephine Wall UK site]

Puzzle: Merlin’s Oak by Myles Pinkney

Merlin's Oak, med
Size: 500+ pieces
Producer:  New Fangled Angles series
Artist: Myles Pinkney is an outstanding fantasy artist. Magic flows through each one if his illustrations, bringing to life a fantasy realm outside that of the architecture of traditional mythology. He also deals with Arthurian legend and religious subject-matter. Works such as “Christmas Presence” and “Merlin’s Oak” demonstrate Pinkney’s ability to articulate his artistic vision in the painstaking detail of his painting. [Gallery of Wizardry site]
Painting: photo
Notes: Merlin’s Oak is a famous oak tree that once stood on the corner of Oak Lane and Priory Street in Carmarthen, South Wales. In local tradition, Carmarthen is said to be the birth place of the mythical magician Merlin, claiming that the origin of the name Carmarthen, or Caerfyrddin comes from Myrddin, the Welsh name for Merlin. Merlin is said to have made a prophecy regarding the old oak tree:

When Merlin’s Oak shall tumble down,
Then shall fall Carmarthen Town.

Other versions of the prophecy state that when the tree falls, the town will drown or flood. [Wiki]

Save

Save

Puzzle: Dreams of Camelot by Josephine Wall


Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 68.58cm x 48.26cm
Producer:  Crystals and Candlelight series
Artist: Josephine Wall
Painting: photo
Box: photo
Notes: Camelot is the most famous castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French  romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur’s realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world. The stories locate it somewhere in Britain  and sometimes associate it with real cities, though more usually its precise location is not revealed. Most scholars regard it as being entirely fictional, its geography being perfect for romance writers; Arthurian scholar Norris J. Lacy commented that “Camelot, located no where in particular, can be anywhere”. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Three Graces, by Josephine Wall


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 33.02cm x 48.26cm
Producer:  Rose Art, Jewel Scapes series
Artist: Josephine Wall is an English born artist who currently resides in the seaside community of Dorset, England. She specializes in mystical, surreal-like, fantasy paintings. [Bio on Josephine Wall site]

Notes: Three inseparable sisters – daughters of Zeus, representing all that is noble, beautiful and pure, keep watch from above. Aglaia (brightness) symbolised by brightly coloured butterflies, Euphrosyne (joyfulness) symbolised by the joyful sound of birdsong, and Thalia (bloom) symbolised by a headdress of flowers.

Above all they were goddesses, noble of grace, and a beauty which enchants. Their hair and faces shine with radiant beauty, looking down from Mount Olympus. [Josephine Wall UK site]

Puzzle: Alphabet of Thorn, by Kinuko Craft


Size: 1000 pieces
Producer:  Master Pieces
Artist: Kinuko Craft – Japanese-born American contemporary painter, illustrator and fantasy artist.  Craft came to the United States in 1964 where she continues to live and work today. Her art has included paintings for the book covers of many well known fantasy authors such as Patricia A. McKillip, Juliet Marillier, Tanith Lee  and many others. She has also designed opera posters, fairy tale books and painted cover art for many national magazines such as Time, Newsweek and The National Geographic. [Wiki]
Notes: Alphabet of Thorn is a 2004 fantasy novel by Patricia A. McKillip. It was nominated for the 2005 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature. [Wiki]