Artifact Puzzles Kevin Sloan The Gift Arrives Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

I have gotten smaller Artifact Puzzles before and love them! So when I had a chance to get one with more puzzle pieces, I was so excited! I spent quite awhile carefully reviewing various Artifact Puzzle designs until I found the one I liked best. The pieces themselves are nicely done wooden pieces and there are lovely whimsy pieces. I can easily see passing these Artifact Puzzles down to my grandchildren, if I am lucky enough to have them. Here’s my problem: such a wonderful heirloom quality puzzle deserves packaging that is just as high quality. I am down-rating this puzzle strictly due to the wooden box, which does not meet the same high quality as the pieces and subject selection deserve. The wood is “naked”/unfinished and can easily experience warpage over the years. Already it is a little hard to slide the cover off the box, which will only get more problematic with time. The edges on the box cover have some small gaps and are not as “flush” as they could be. The only image of the puzzle is pasted on the cover, so the only image to guide the puzzler is vulnerable to water damage, etc. That last problem can be eased by having a picture inserted in the box in addition to having it pasted on the cover of the box. I am doubtful this box will stand the test of time. Please package these Artifact Puzzles with the same high quality care as the subject selection and puzzle piece quality deserves!

Artist Kevin Sloan calls himself a "contemporary allegorical realist." His paintings combine Old Masters' drafsmanship, lush sensual colors and a quirky modernist attitude. "The Gift Arrives" is a wonderful example of his work - a ground squirrel and his posse, courting the lady of his dreams - presented with meticulous attention to detail. It's a beautiful scene, full of dream-like potential..., and it makes a great jigsaw puzzle.My wife and I have collected wooden jigsaw puzzles for many years. Our collection includes some wonderful handcut antique puzzles - but none of them are as lovely and elegant as the more than a dozen Artifact puzzles we own. Artifact is a small, Seattle-based company specializing in laser-cut, wooden jigsaw puzzles. They use high quality illustrations, printed with colorful soy-based inks, bonded to 1/4 inch plywood. Their laser technology allows for very precise and intricate cuts. The puzzles are small and challenging - I would not recommend an Artifact puzzle for a child younger than 10 years old."The Gift Arrives" is in 344 pieces. As with many Artifact puzzles, the pieces include a number of "whimsies," pieces shaped like animals, birds and fruit.... There are false edges, tricky corners and pieces that connect perfectly to the wrong piece. When its completed it's 8.5 by 17 inches.Like most of the larger Artifact puzzles, "The Gift Arrives" is packaged in a very cool pine box.If you are a puzzle person - particularly if you are a puzzle person who has never "done" a wooden jigsaw puzzle - "The Gift Arrives" is a wonderful introduction to the world of wooden puzzles.

This was my first Artifact Puzzle, after "rediscovering" jigsaw puzzles. I was remembering the old wooden ones at the prettiest old hotel in Pasadena, and I had no idea anyone still made them. Wonderfully tricky, difficult but fair, pleasing-to-the-senses. The craftsmanship and quality is amazing–and the various shapes (echoing designs in the painting) are amusing. Also, the tiny space made by cutting the pieces with a jigsaw make the pieces fit together perfectly. But it is not easy. The pieces are small, but not too small for adults. Oh, dear–the start of a collection. A keeper, that's for sure! It will be almost as difficult the next time I do it!

Too many pieces that were almost identical, would even fit where they shouldn't fit.The edges were sort of scalloped in a straight-line sort of way, creating numbers of pieces that were almost exactly alike.Much fewer whimsical pieces than usual.Love Artifact Puzzles. This one was cut below their usual cut-design quality.

Worked this one from the inside out since it was clear that the borders were going to develop as we went along. This puzzle is big enough for a small group to work on. A lovely, whimsical pic too. Love that Kevin Sloan.

This one was a littler easier than most but the puzzle was still fun.

My first of the larger Artifact puzzles. The Gift Arrives was , in a word, sublime (but with a tongue-in-cheek humor). I really enjoyed it. The visual imagery was luscious and understated at the same time, like an old favorite song. Another winner. On to the hummingbird puzzle next.

terrific