Jigsaws. A Short History.

The Jigsaw Puzzle has been around for centuries, but the modern-day Jigsaw Puzzle came into its own in the early 20th century. Around this time, jigsaws transitioned from being made of wood to cardboard and metal (and later plastic), with many different shapes and sizes.

Today’s jigsaw puzzles come in a wide variety of shapes sizes and styles. While most Jigsaw Puzzles contain 1000 pieces or less (usually 500-800), there are some much larger than that with up to 12000 pieces! Shapes range from traditional rectangle frames for standard-sized picture cutouts to more unique shaped ones such as U-shapes, circles, diamonds, etc… The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating your customized shape based on what you want.

The style of the puzzle is also up to you, with a wide variety of themes and pictures from which to choose. Classic puzzles usually depict landscapes or well-known scenes from around the world, while more modern puzzles might have pop culture references or intricate designs.

History of the Jigsaw Puzzle:

Early puzzles, known as dissections, were produced by mounting maps on sheets of hardwood and cutting along national boundaries, creating a puzzle useful for teaching geography.

The first jigsaw is thought to have been invented in 1767 England by John Spilsbury who mounted three map sections together into one sphere that could be taken apart and put back together again. As the Industrial Revolution began around this time (1760-the 1840s), mass production was able to make the manufacture of wooden puzzles more affordable which allowed them to become popular toys throughout Europe.

Over 100 years later in 1885, William Londsale patented “le noeud coulant”, or ‘the running knot’, an improved method of connecting pieces. This allowed for more complex shapes and structures to be built, such as the Eiffel Tower pictured above (which you can even buy a DIY puzzle set of!).

The Jigsaw Puzzle has been around for centuries, but the modern-day Jigsaw Puzzle came into its own in the early 20th century. Around this time, jigsaws transitioned from being made of wood to cardboard and metal (and later plastic), with many different shapes and sizes.

Different Puzzle Pieces:

Many puzzles are termed “fully interlocking”, meaning that adjacent pieces are connected such that they stay attached when one is turned. Sometimes the connection is tight enough to pick up a solved part by holding one piece.

The Pieces fit together snugly and are designed to be picked up by the shape of the edge, not the corners. This makes it easy to hold a solved section without everything falling apart.

Today’s jigsaw puzzles come in a wide variety of shapes sizes and styles. While most Jigsaw Puzzles contain 1000 pieces or less (usually 500-800), there are some much larger than that with up to 12000 pieces! Shapes range from traditional rectangle frames for standard-sized picture cutouts to more unique shaped ones such as U-shapes, circles, diamonds, etc… The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating your customized shape based on what you want.

Puzzle pieces come in all shapes and sizes, but there are some standard ones that you’ll see time and again. Here are just a few:

-rectangle (the most common shape)

-square

-circle

-triangle

-hexagon

-octagon

Today’s jigsaw puzzles come in a wide variety of shapes sizes and styles. While most Jigsaw Puzzles contain 1000 pieces or less (usually 500-800), there are some much larger than that with up to 12000 pieces! Shapes range from traditional rectangle frames for standard-sized picture cutouts to more unique shaped ones such as U-shapes, circles, diamonds, etc… The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating your customized shape based on what you want.

The style of the puzzle is also up to you, with a wide variety of themes and pictures from which to choose. Classic puzzles usually depict landscapes or well-known scenes from around the world, while more modern puzzles might have pop culture references or intricate

Modern Day Jigsaws

Today’s jigsaw puzzles come in a wide variety of shapes sizes and styles. While most Jigsaw Puzzles contain 1000 pieces or less (usually 500-800), there are some much larger than that with up to 12000 pieces! Shapes range from traditional

Most people buy a Jigsaw Puzzle for the fun of putting it together. However, some may purchase a puzzle just to have an expensive decoration in their home! This is pretty common among collectors since they usually display puzzles that were hard to find or from certain brands such as Ravensburger and Buffalo Games.

Jigsaws also make great gifts–they can be given both for personal use (such as completing them) or decorative purposes (such as buying one without any picture). People enjoy giving jigsaws because you never know what shape, size, or design they’ll end up with when complete!

So, the next time you’re looking for a fun and challenging activity to do, consider picking up a Jigsaw Puzzle! With all of the different shapes and sizes available, there’s something for everyone. And don’t forget–putting together a jigsaw can be just as rewarding as completing it!