Artist: David McCoun
Maker and year: E.E. Fairchild, circa 1940
Count: 700 pieces
Final size: approx. 28 x 20″
Piece Type/Variety: Standard ribbon cut, irregular at edges
Piece quality: Very good
Skin irritation: None
This antique puzzle I found on the bottom shelf in a thrift store was most likely made between 1930 and 1950. It has a shaped border with odd-shaped pieces, though all the interior ones are standard shapes. I still tried to put the frame together first, and it would have been a lot more challenging if I hadn’t seen how some of them fit together already, because they were chunks of the puzzle pre-assembled in the box from the previous person (which I broke all apart before starting). I wonder how long ago this puzzle was last done. It was in really good condition. While the colors aren’t bright (overall image rather dark), there was nothing missing and the pieces are nice and thick. Very satisfying tactile feel, handling these pieces and pushing each one into place. They interlock rather loosely (the knobs are shallow) but I didn’t mind.
The picture itself is very busy with lots of detail- three teams of horses, dogs in the crowd, kids peeking out around people, worshippers in a religious building in the background on one side, dancers around a band on the other. And in the foreground, this very endearing group of young people- two girls in pretty lace dresses being eyed by two boys holding flowers.
I think they all look rather anxious! I imagine the boys are getting up their courage to speak to the girls, who are feeling just as nervous about it . . . There are fine-looking ladies in fancy skirts with a flounce at the rear (I don’t know the proper terms), and women in peasant skirts with babies on their backs, and rainbow-striped serapes, and all other kinds of little things which I am sure are particular to the culture, I just don’t recognize their significance. This was a very fun puzzle to do.
