What do you call the shapes of jigsaw pieces??

As I’ve handles puzzle pieces over the years, I've often wondered what to call the shapes. Sometimes I've needed to describe a puzzle piece to a puzzle helper, and a suitable term just doesn't seem to exist. Anne Williams discusses this very subject in her book, The Jigsaw Puzzle. She mentions the “running man” shape and the “turtle” shape. She states although there are several terms used there is no one list of terms agreed upon by everyone.
What do you call the various jigsaw piece shapes? - leave me a comment. Or come back later if you think of one.

More new jigsaws

Fabulous new jigsaws just arrived.

Postcard from Paris. 1000 pieces.





Sunset in the Maldives 1000 pieces
Check out the website under Newly Received for more great jigsaws.

Give a jigsaw as a gift - with a difference!

We all enjoy giving a jigsaw as a gift, but here is an idea for a jigsaw gift that is a bit different - do the puzzle yourself, and send chunks of completed puzzle to the birthday person over a number of days - makes for an air of mystery! Click here to read about it.

New EDUCA puzzles

Educa is a great jigsaw puzzle manufacturer with a strong and popular range. According to their website they value creativity, safety, variety and quality.

Educa have the record for the smallest 1000 piece puzzle (46 by 30cm).

Educa in 2007 brought out what was then, the largest jigsaw puzzle at 24,000 pieces. This puzzle, called Life, The Greatest Puzzle, features the work of New Zealand artist Royce B McClure, well known for his 3d effects jigsaw puzzles.

Fabulous 4D jigsaws

Experience and rebuild the past, present and future in these amazing 4D jigsaws. Build from the ground up with jigsaw pieces, models and time poster.
These are available on our website now, but won't last long.

Mike Nettmann and his puzzle pieces exhibition

Mike Nettmann, a South African born artist, who has lived in New Zealand for 30 years, has also used jigsaw puzzle pieces as the basis for his artwork. His exhibition of paintings shows jigsaw puzzle pieces representing gratitude, humility, loyalty, faith, obedience, love, tolerance and respect - all of which he has put into a basket of lost values. Read about the exhibition here.
Click here for a glimpse of the exhibition.
The exhibition is on at Kaan Zamaan, Kerikeri Rd, Kerikeri, New Zealand until May 11.

Mosaics from jigsaw pieces

If you have ever wondered what to do with those jigsaw puzzles that have bits missing, perhaps you could donate them to Nürnberg-based artist Gerhard Mayer who re-purposes thousands of pieces from jigsaw puzzles to create enormous, abstract collages that fill entire gallery walls. He uses a delicate process of layering sections of puzzles that have already been pieced together to create new images and textures. See more of his work here.