Puzzles Created by Isabel Ayer
When the first puzzle craze struck Boston, MA back in 1907, Miss Ayer quickly moved into the cutting and sale of wood puzzles from her Fountain Pen Store in Old South Building using the name, “Picture Puzzle Exchange”. Her ad in the City Directory in 1909 reads, “Puzzles for sale and to loan; pictures, wood, saw blades, boxes, labels, etc. to make puzzles.” Her rental library was probably the first of its kind. She operated out of several locations in Boston for 30 years and helped many noncommercial makers in getting started. She even made replacement pieces. Her puzzles were first made of solid wood and then of plywood, cut non-interlocking with extensive color line cutting, and packed into sturdy dark green boxes. They are well known for being quite difficult. See also “Jigsaw Puzzles: An Illustrated History and Price Guide”, Anne D. Williams, Wallace Homestead Book Co. (1990), pp. 36-37.
24 puzzles in this collection - Page: 1 2
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An IntroductionThis scene certainly fits the definition of “adorable”, “appealing”, “touching”. A human interest picture at its best and cut extensively along color lines by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA/Picture Puzzle Exchange, 1909c, solid wood, non-interlocking. Artist: unknown |
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Anthony and CleopatraPicture Puzzle Exchange puzzle cut 1920/30 by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA, plywood, non-interlocking, extensive color line cutting. From "Anthony and Cleopatra" Act I, Scene 3. As Anthony takes his leave of Cleopatra to return to Rome, he promises, "And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee". Scene selected by George Lyman Kittredge, Harvard U. Artist: Edward A. Wilson. |
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Blossom TimeThis is a fine example of the non-interlocking (i.e. push-fit), totally color line cut style of the 1909 era. Devilishly difficult to assemble, it was cut by one of the leading makers, Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA, and sold under her label, Picture Puzzle Exchange. Women dominated the selection of artwork, cutting and assembly of puzzles in that period. For a long time I did not know who the artist was, until a helpful web surfer (Carol P.) told me that this is an R. Atkinson Fox print. |
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CarmenColorful scene by unknown artist, cut by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA. Plywood, non-interlocking, cut extensively along color lines. Ayer did a particularly masterful job of cutting the second floor ballisters repeatedly fooling me! Note that scene is mirror image of the "Carmen" Pastime puzzle also displayed in this section, both great puzzles. |
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Driving Out His Royal HighnessLike so many other female cutters in the 1909 era when this puzzle was cut, Isabel Ayer had a well-developed sense of humor in both selecting the artwork and titling the puzzle. Picture Puzzle Exchange, solid wood, non-interlocking, cut extensively along color lines. Artist: Harrison Fisher |
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Early AutumnThis lovely scene painted by Maxfield Parrish in 1936 was cut into puzzle displayed by Isabel Ayer of Boston, MA shortly before her remarkable career as one of the leading puzzle makers in the Boston area ended in the early 1940s . Her style is similar to puzzles cut by her 30 years earlier: push fit with extensive color line cutting and no figure pieces, but by the 1930s she was "turning" the wood more and achieving some degree of interlock. Still, I consider her a part of the 1909 era of puzzle cutting. At the very top of the tree just to the right of the cloud is a gap or empty space among the leaves. Was this a cutting error by the great Ms. Ayer at the end of her career? Or did she cut the gap intentionally to deceive the assembler, thereby creating the first known example of "dropouts-deception"? It certainly fooled me! The technique of cutting carefully placed empty spaces within the puzzle to deceive the assembler was extensively developed by Stave Puzzles starting in 1970s and is a standard technique in their repertoire for cutting puzzles today. Compare Early Autumn with Moondance displayed in the "Puzzles cut by today's makers" section and decide for your self! |
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EntomologistPicture Puzzle Exchange puzzle (#468) cut by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA 1909c. Solid wood, non-interlocking, cut extensively along color lines. Artist is unknown but colorful Victorian scenes such as this with adult looking and dressed children make very charming puzzles. |
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HamletNote the great similarity between this scene and the "Hamlet-Frighted with False Fire" also displayed in this section. Artist(s) for both scenes is unknown but I suspect it is the same person. Scene is the famous "play within a play" from Act III in which Hamlet has arranged for a group of traveling players to reenact Hamlet's suspicions that his father was murdered by his uncle to claim the throne and marry his mother. A Picture Puzzle Exchange puzzle made by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA, probably late in her career in the 1930s. Plywood, non-interlocking, cut extensively along color lines with 14 figure pieces (unusual for her). |
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Midsummer Nights Dream: TitaniaPicture Puzzle Exchange puzzle cut circa 1937 by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA, plywood, non-interlocking, extensive color line cutting. From "Midsummer Nights Dream" Act II, Scene 1. Titania and Oberon, the Queen and King of the Fairies, who have been quarreling, confront each other in the forest outside of Athens; Oberon greets his wife with "Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania". Scene selected by George Lyman Kittredge, Harvard U. Artist: Edward A. Wilson. |
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On Location: Hold Still PleaseOne of the more humerous of our bear puzzles. Even the bear seems to have a curious face. Artist: Hy Hintermeister, is well known for his many appealing human interest scenes, usually including humor. The maker, Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA circa 1915 frequently put her own title on her puzzles, so she could have added her own touch here. Plywood, non-interlocking, cut along color lines. |
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On the WarpathPicture Puzzle Exchange puzzle No. V cut by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA 1909c. Solid wood, non-interlocking, cut extensively along color lines with irregular top with warrior’s hand protruding so as to deceive puzzle assembler working the top edge, called “irregular edge-protrusion”. The raised hand does not logically fit along the sky blue top. Artist: Paul Strayer. |
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Othello: Planting the EvidencePicture Puzzle Exchange puzzle cut 1910s by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA, plywood, non-interlocking, extensive color line cutting. Artist's version of "Othello" Act III, Scene 3 (the handkerchief scene) in which Desdemona accidentally drops her handkerchief, found by Emilia who gives it to Iago. Very difficult puzzle, wonderful artwork! Artist: unknown. |
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RetrieversPicture Puzzle Exchange puzzle cut 1909c, by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA, solid wood, non-interlocking, extensive color line cutting. Check clothing and foot gear of this “huntress”! Artist: unknown. |
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Right of WayHopefully, right of way will be decided when the loud noises made by shooting the pistol into the air scare away the bear. Otherwise, pistol shots at such close range may only irritate the bear. The man carrying the canoe will take too much time time to put the canoe down, load his rifle and take aim. Picture Puzzle Exchange puzzle made by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA 1909c.. Solid wood, non-interlocking, cut extensively along color lines. Artist is Philip R. Goodwin, one of many scenes he painted of 2 hunters/canoists/hikers encountering dangerous wildlife (usually bears) in the wilderness. |
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Romeo and JulietPicture Puzzle Exchange puzzle cut in 1920/30 by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA, plywood, non-interlocking, extensive color line cutting. From Act II, "Romeo and Juliet" in which Romeo appears below Juliet's balcony carrying a guitar, as if he means to serenade her. I am skeptical of this modern depiction of the balcony scene, but cutting is superb! Artist: unknown. |
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Soldiers AllPicture Puzzle Exchange puzzle cut extensively along color lines in the 1910s by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA, solid wood, non-interlocking. Family military traditions prompted many young men to enlist in our all-volunteer army called the American Expeditionary Force. Artist: Marion Powers. |
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The Animals that Went to HeavenVery unusual scene depicting the arrival in Heaven, according to Moslem legend, of the famous animals who were held worthy to share the joys of Paradise. Each animal is here shown accompanied by an angel. In the center is Buraq, half-mule, half-ass (Mahomet's mount when he rode to Heaven) being welcomed by a galaxy of angels. Just above him are Solomon's hoopoe and Noah's dove. Below (from left to right) are Balaam's ass, Salih's camel, and Abraham's ram with the dog of the Seven Sleepers. At the foot of the picture is Jonah's fish. The Queen of the Ants is seen on a piece of blue scroll just below the angel behind Buraq. Painted specially by artist Jacynth Parsons for "The Illustrated London News." Puzzle cut by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA 1910/20s, plywood, non-interlocking, cut extensively along color lines. Restoration required 192 pieces to be relaminated. |
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The Beginning of a Bear StoryLooks to me like the fishereman's catch has been "caught" a second time! I think we know who will prevail. Plywood, non-interlocking, cut along color lines, unknown artist. |
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The Dance of the MusesPicture Puzzle Exchange puzzle #42 cut by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA 1910s. Plywood, non-interlocking, cut extensively along color lines. The picture by unknown artist makes this puzzle so special. |
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The FrolicA great scene and puzzle, cut extensively along color lines from plywood by Isabel Ayer, Boston, MA/Picture Puzzle Exchange, 1910-20s. Plywood would be more appropriate for such a large puzzle because of its non-warping properties. Artist: Milo Winter. Miss Ayer had an impeccable eye for quality artwork for her puzzles. |
24 puzzles in this collection - Page: 1 2