A unique style that still appeals today
Pastime Puzzle was not just about cutting standard shapes. the large colour areas The pattern, giving an almost magical visual consistency. Imagine a blue sky divided into fluid pieces, continuous green areas for the leaves, and, in the middle, figurative scenes that bring a playful and artistic touch. These fancy pieces represented about 12% of the puzzle, and they transformed the assembly into the game: not only did it identify colour and shape, but they also found these small surprises.
The wood used was a three foldsEach worker produced up to a maximum of 1 400 pieces per day, a hallucinating rhythm that required both endurance and precision. Some cutters even went so far as to invent new figurals, giving each puzzle a unique personality.
The Golden Age and the Decline
Pastis has had two fasting periods:
- The 1910s, right after its creation, when each puzzle became a small masterpiece admired by amateurs.
- The 1930sDuring the Great Depression, with an expanded workshop and more varied ranges: romantic scenes, exotic landscapes, illustrated stories.
But after World War II, the competition for cheaper and faster cardboard puzzles struck the wind. Parker Brothers gradually reduced its production, until I left Paste in 1958The brand then enters the legend and its puzzles become collectibles.
Rare and valuable to collectors
Today, owning a Pastime Puzzle is a privilege, and copies are occasionally found on eBay or in antique stores. craftsmanshipThe beauty of the visuals and the charm of the figurals make them sought after. Even a full-sized puzzle of medium size can be negotiated around a hundred dollars, but it is especially the pleasure to find the unique experience of Pastime that captures collectors.
A modern legacy
The spirit of Pastime persists in some contemporary publishers:
- Wentworth Wooden Puzzles : laser-cut, thick wooden puzzles with Fantastic pieces The main features of the project are the use of the ‘tractor’ and ‘mould’ (tractors, mills, animals).
- Mystery of the future (FR): Each piece follows the lines of the pattern, with unique shapes for clouds, trees and animals. 100% French craftsmanship and premium quality.
- Par Puzzle The design is a mix of modern design and creative cutting to offer an immersive experience similar to that of the Pastime figurines.
These marks perpetuate the art of the quality wood puzzle, reminding us that the magic of the large coloured areas and the fancy pieces has not lost its fascination.
The following is a summary
- Wooden puzzles, 1908 ⁇ 1958, exceptional artisanal quality.
- Cut according to the colour areas, with about 12% figure.
- Intense craft production: up to 1 400 pieces per worker per day.
- Golden age in the 1910s and 1930s, abandoned in 1958.
- Collectible items today, prized for their beauty and rarity.
- Living legacy: Wentworth, By Puzzle and Michelle Wilson continue to innovate in the wooden puzzle.
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