We've been sharing some Top 10 lists from Artifact Puzzles collectors (see Hertel's Top 10 and Brandt's Top 8), but collector Martha wrote in to say:
Dearest Artifact,
You have set us an impossible task. This is like asking us to rate our children by favorites!
I will admit to having a special fondness for certain puzzles, but out of a hundred there are certainly WAY more than ten! Many factors influence that fondness, for instance:
The puzzling situation and who worked on the puzzle - Persini Le Passeur (currently discontinued):
How personally it speaks my name - Vikram Madan Caf-fiend (photo title: “Bed Head”),
How it filled a need (in this case a beautiful distraction) - Old Venice Map,
How stirring the image (plus, in this case, colors that utterly make me swoon) - Piero di Cosimo Liberazione di Andromeda,
Amazing whimsies - Big San Francisco Literary Map (and many others!),
The interplay between the image and cut - Piet Mondrian Composition
Luminosity like Rekunenko Charming Village,
Sheer gorgeousness - Severin Roesen Flower Still Life,
And fun! - Joe Vaux Breach of Contract.
I’ve only just scratched the surface here of puzzles I love. I couldn’t possibly rank them. There are many others I love just as much. I think it’s absolutely fair to say I don’t have a favorite puzzle but … I totally look forward to solving a lot more and maybe proving myself wrong! I always get a rush of excitement when I check out the upcoming puzzles. Who knows what fondnesses will yet develop!
Thanks for all the great puzzles Artifact!
Martha
Fun pictures!
I made one of the earlier lists, so it’s been really interesting seeing how different each list is.
Just as a comparison I’ve made 3 of these as well:
- Luminosity is a fun one with the theme all the different piece shapes, highly recommended! That one came really close to making my list.
- Cercles Et Des Carres is fantastic with all the weird piece shapes, but it goes oh so quick!
- And Breach of Contract is just good straight fun, can’t go wrong with that :)
Thanks for the list, I’ll have to give a few of those a try!
I’m new to this all and it was so nice to see how the different puzzles look. Thanks for sharing your favorites Martha and these great photos!
Yep, I totally agree! Especially about the memories of puzzling with others – my favorite being the first time you introduce someone to an artifact puzzle and their eyes open to a better world!