With less than a month left til Christmas we have put together our top 10 ideas to put some puzzle magic into your Christmas this year. Bring your love of puzzles together with the magic of Christmas ..read more

Looking for something different for your next kids party?  Have you thought about hosting a puzzle themed party?  We all know puzzles are fun, but did you know that puzzles help children, build their creativity, challenge and develop problem solving skills, assist in developing balance and increase eye/hand coordination.  So, why not host a party that’s fun but also educates and stimulates all involved.  ..read more

Cast your mind back in time to the 1760’s, your name is John Spilsbury and you are an engraver and a map maker.  You call England your home and you are an apprentice to the royal cartographer under King George the Third.  Life is simple many toys and games are made from wood and there are not too many to choose from.  Children’s publishing is starting to grow, and education is done in small schools with limited visual aids ..read more

Did you know that puzzles are not only fun, but they can improve areas and functions of the brain?  We love puzzles here at Arte et Marte Puzzles and we thought we investigate, how puzzles can help our health and development and why regularly puzzle solving should be a regular part of your routine.  ..read more

When I think of puzzle boxes, my first thoughts drift to Greek Myth of Pandora’s Box, the story of Pandora who was given a box by Zeus and told never to open it. Human nature being what it is, of course she opened it and let out all the horrors onto the world such as plaques, pestilence and wars. I assumed this was the first story about puzzle boxes, but there is no mention of it being any harder to open than with a key. So, it seems that puzzle box origins, like many other puzzle origins, is a mystery in itself ..read more

There are two types of puzzle rings, the first dating back to the Romans, where the social elite had rings with secret compartments to conceal their money. Similar in design to a puzzle box but on a smaller scale, you need to find the trick catch to open the secret compartment. The second is a series of rings that are entwined and require a series of steps to separate. We see these throughout Turkish and Celtic histories used for the promise of love, or to symbolise a union of souls and for other more sinister reasons. Let’s take a quick look at their evolution and history ..read more

This story takes us back to circa 2250BC to the Indus Valley, one of the first know human civilisations, located in what we now know as north-western regions of south Asia, the Harappan Civilisation.  The cities in this region were known for its great urban planning, backed brick houses, extensive water supply and drainage systems.  The people worked and crafted with bronze, lead, clay and carnelian materials and developed unique and new techniques ..read more

How did a turtle become one of the most influential animals in puzzles, maths and Feng Shei?  We delve into the legend of the Lo Shu square or more commonly known as the Emperor and the turtle.  ..read more

Have you ever wondered why so many jigsaw puzzles feature works by artists?  In today’s puzzle world you can get puzzles by historic legends, through to the modern, pop culture and fine artists of our time.  Let’s take a look at the synergies between art and jigsaws throughout history.  ..read more

Do you want to get the perfect gift for your friends and family? We explore why all types of puzzles make the perfect Christmas gift. The benefits of puzzles include education, entertainment and are great fun to complete. Let’s look at a few examples ..read more