Irregular edges and dropped out sections are hardly new techniques. Some unknown maker came up with the bright idea around 1909 and simply cut out and threw away 2 opposite corner sections in puzzle to confuse assembler. It certainly worked! Whether this technique adds or subtracts to puzzle image is debatable, but we love it any ways! Solid wood, non-interlocking, cut along color lines. Artist is Lionel Bundy, thanks to a helpful web browser named Jon Hart, who sent me a picture of the original painting without the 2 sections cut away (see second image above). Thanks, Jon!
However, another web browser says the painting is signed F.D. for Frank Dadd, a well known illustrator of children's books. Usually, it is difficult to find any artist name associated with a puzzle picture as the puzzle maker often cuts away border areas containing the artist's name as he "sizes" a puzzle for the number of pieces he/she wants to cut.