Home Archive by category "Puzzles" (Page 26)

Category: Puzzles

Puzzle: Taj Mahal Dreams by Walter Pepperle


Size: 1000 pieces, triptychon
Dimensions: 98cm x 37.5cm
Producer:  Ravensburger, no. 19 990 7
Artist: Walter Pepperle
Box: Puzzles and Beyond
Notes: The Taj Mahal (from Persian/Urdu: “crown of buildings”) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is widely considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love.

Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles.

Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator’s glory.

[Shah Jahan]

[Wiki]

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: Bay Bridge, San Francisco, U.S.A.


Size: 1000 pieces
Notes: The San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge (known locally as the Bay Bridge) is a pair of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay of California, in the United States. Forming part of Interstate 80 and of the direct road route between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries approximately 270,000 vehicles per day on its two decks. It has one of the longest spans in the world.

The toll bridge was conceived as early as the gold rush days, but construction did not begin until 1933. Designed by Charles H. Purcell, and built by American Bridge Company, it opened for traffic on November 12, 1936, six months before the Golden Gate Bridge. It originally carried automobile traffic on its upper deck, and trucks and trains on the lower, but after the closure of the Key System, the lower deck was converted to road traffic as well. [Wiki]

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.

Puzzle: Royal Courts, London


Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 59.7 cm x 39.4 cm
Producer: Sure-Lox, Impressions
Notes: The Royal Courts of Justice, commonly called the Law Courts, is the building in London which houses the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and the High Court of Justice of England and Wales. Courts within the building are open to the public although there may be some restrictions depending upon the nature of the cases being heard. The building is a large grey stone edifice in the Victorian Gothic style and was designed by George Edmund Street, a solicitor turned architect. It was built in the 1870s. The Royal Courts of Justice were opened by Queen Victoria in December 1882.

Entering through the main gates in the Strand one passes under two elaborately carved porches fitted with iron gates. The carving over the outer porch consists of heads of the most eminent Judges and Lawyers. Over the highest point of the upper arch is a figure of Jesus; to the left and right at a lower level are figures of Solomon and Alfred the Great; that of Moses  is at the northern front of the building. Also at the northern front, over the Judges entrance are a stone cat and dog representing fighting litigants in court. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Niagara Falls, U.S.A.


Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 59.7 cm x 39.4 cm
Producer: Sure-Lox
Notes: The Niagara Falls are waterfalls in North America. These voluminous waterfalls are situated on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 27 km north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 121 km south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.

Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island: the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side and the American Falls on the American side. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island. Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Vatican, Italy


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 48.4 cm x 35.5 cm
Producer: Sure-Lox
Notes: Vatican City or Vatican City State is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of approximately 110 acres, and a population of just over 800.

Vatican City was established in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty, signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri, on behalf of the Holy See and by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini on behalf of the Kingdom of Italy. Vatican City State is distinct from the Holy See, which dates back to early Christianity and is the main episcopal see of 1.2 billion Latin and Eastern Catholic adherents around the globe. Ordinances of Vatican City are published in Italian; official documents of the Holy See are issued mainly in Latin. The two entities even have distinct passports: the Holy See, not being a country, issues only diplomatic and service passports; Vatican City State issues normal passports. Very few passports are issued by either authority.

The Lateran Treaty in 1929, which brought the city-state into existence, spoke of it as a new creation (Preamble and Article III), not as a vestige of the much larger Papal States (756-1870) that had previously encompassed much of central Italy. Most of this territory was absorbed into the Kingdom of Italy in 1860, and the final portion, namely the city of Rome with Lazio, ten years later, in 1870. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Trevi Fountain


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 48.26 cm x 35.56 cm
Producer: Sure-Lox, Land Marks series
Box: photo
Notes: The Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) is a fountain in the Trevi rione in Rome, Italy. Standing 25.9 meters high and 19.8 meters wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.

The fountain at the junction of three roads (tre vie) marks the terminal point of the “modern” Acqua Vergine, the revived Aqua Virgo, one of the ancient aqueducts  that supplied water to ancient Rome. In 19 BC, supposedly with the help of a virgin, Roman technicians located a source of pure water some 13 km from the city. (This scene is presented on the present fountain’s facade.) [Wiki]

Puzzle: House in Wales


Size: 500 pieces
Notes: Not depicted on the puzzle, Simon Dale has built a house fit for hobbits in Wales. “Some of the characteristics of the wooden house are that it’s dug inside a hillside for shelter, lime plaster and mud are used to keep the walls sticking together, straw balls are used in floor, roof and walls, solar panels are installed for lightning, music and computers, and skylight on the roof gives natural light.” There are a few photos on the site, and it does look like a fairy tale dwelling. [Planet Oddity site]

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.

Puzzle: Italian Feast


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 35.56 cm x 45.72 cm
Producer: PuzzleMakers International
Box: photo
Notes: An Italian feast opens with antipasti (literally, “before the meal”), or appetizers. The antipasti is followed by the primi, consisting of a light pasta or soup. The main dish, secondi, is a meat or a fish platter. Some recipes will call for braciole, which means cutlets with the bone. The secondi is served with the fourth course in an Italian feast, the contomi, a side dish of vegetables. The Italian meal ends with dolce, equivalent to dessert: pastries like zeppole, served on St. Joseph’s day; doily-like cookies called pizelle; biscottis (twice-baked cookies that give an interesting crunch). Coffee is usually served after the meal. [See Italia site]

There is a book by Antonio Carpuccio called “Italian Feast” that features “a collection of over 100 recipes by Antonio Carluccio, Italian food’s greatest champion, that take the best of the old and the most delicious of the modern to create food that is as full of passion as it is flavour.” [Italian Feast book site]

Puzzle: Taste of Tuscany, Cucina Allegra


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 48.26cm x 35.56cm
Producer: The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Taste of Tuscany series
Notes: “Cucina allegra” according to Google translates to “Happy kitchen”. If anyone speaks Italian, please correct this if it is wrong.

As I could not find anything online with this name, I assume it is the artistic description of the painting. And so, I found a site in the UK called “Happy Kitchen” and browsed around. It seems, the kitchen is ran by two women making wheat-free, sugar-free, dairy-free organic dishes. Would be interesting to try, although I could not tell from their contact page where they are based. [Happy Kitchen site]

Puzzle: Taste of Tuscany, Bella Piazza



Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 48.26cm x 35.56cm
Producer: The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Taste of Tuscany series
Notes: A piazza is a city square in Italy, Malta, along the Dalmatian coast and in surrounding regions. The term is roughly equivalent to the Spanish plaza. In Ethiopia, it is used to refer to a part of a city. [Wiki]

Plaza is a Spanish word related to “field” which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square.[1] All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be incorporated in a wing of a governor’s palace, and the audiencia or law court. The plaza might be large enough to serve as a military parade ground. At times of crisis or fiesta, it was the space where a large crowd might gather. Like the Italian piazza, the plaza remains a center of community life that is only equaled by the market-place. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Rustic home


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 40.64cm x 40.64cm
Producer:  Hasbro, MB Puzzle
Notes: rus·tic
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or living in the country, as distinguished from towns or cities; rural.
2. simple, artless, or unsophisticated.
3. uncouth, rude, or boorish.
4. made of roughly dressed limbs or roots of trees, as garden seats.
5. (of stonework) having the surfaces rough or irregular and the joints sunken or beveled. [Dictionary.com]

Puzzle: Lighthouse Scene by Wendy Schaefer-Miles and Kevin D. Miles


Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 99.06 cm wide
Producer: Panorific, Sure-Lox
Artists: Wendy Schaefer-Miles and Kevin D. Miles
Box: photo
Notes: A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

Lighthouses are used to mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals and reefs, and safe entries to harbors, and can also assist in aerial navigation. Once widely used, the number of operational lighthouses has declined due to the expense of maintenance and replacement by modern electronic navigational aids. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Summer Fruits by W. Hammer


Size: 1000 pieces
Producer: Jumbo
Artist: W. Hammer (1821-1889)
Painting: photo
Notes: In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.

The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state, such as apples, oranges, grapes, strawberries, juniper berries and bananas. Seed-associated structures that do not fit these informal criteria are usually called by other names, such as vegetables, pods, nut, ears and cones.

Fruits are the means by which many plants disseminate seeds. Most plants bearing edible fruits, in particular, coevolved with animals in a symbiotic relationship as a means for seed dispersal and nutrition, respectively; in fact, many animals (including humans to some extent) have become dependent on fruits as a source of food. Fruits account for a substantial fraction of world’s agricultural output, and some (such as the apple and the pomegranate) have acquired extensive cultural and symbolic meanings. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Marigold


Size: 500 pieces
Producer: Mega
Notes: Calendula officinalis (pot marigold) is a plant in the genus Calendula, in the family Asteraceae. It is probably native to southern Europe  though its long history of cultivation makes its precise origin unknown, and may possibly be of garden origin. It is also widely naturalised further north in Europe (north to southern England) and elsewhere in warm temperate regions of the world.

Plant pharmacological studies have suggested that Calendula extracts have anti-viral, anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory properties. Calendula in suspension or in tincture is used topically to treat acne, reducing inflammation, controlling bleeding and soothing irritated tissue. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Japanese House


Size: 2000 pieces
Notes: Japanese architecture has a long history much like any other aspect of Japanese culture. Originally heavily influenced by Chinese architecture from the Tang Dynasty, it has also developed many unique differences and aspects indigenous to Japan as a result of dynamic changes throughout its long history. [Wiki]

A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Nepal and other parts of Asia. Some pagodas are used as Taoist houses of worship. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist, and were often located in or near temples. This term may refer to other religious structures in some countries. [Wiki]

I brought this puzzle from Russia in 2007. The picture on the box differs from that on the puzzle – the clouds present in the puzzle are shown on the box as blue-purple gradient of the clear sky, and the water reflection differs accordingly.

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.

Puzzle: Venice


Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 86.36cm x 30.48cm
Producer: The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Panorific series
Notes: Venice (Italian: Venezia) is a city in northern Italy known both for tourism and for industry, and is the capital of the region Veneto, with a population of about 270,660 (census estimate 30 April 2009).

The name is derived from the ancient people of Veneti that inhabited the region as of 10th century B.C. The city historically was the capital of the Venetian Republic. Venice has been known as the “La Dominante”, “Serenissima”, “Queen of the Adriatic”, “City of Water”, “City of Masks”, “City of Bridges”, “The Floating City”, and “City of Canals”. Luigi Barzini, writing in The New York Times, described it as “undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man”.

The city stretches across 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. The saltwater lagoon stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po (south) and the Piave (north) Rivers. [Wiki]