Wish List: Metamorphose (Selegiochi, 3000pc)

Image via puzzle-forum.de

What we have here may be a strong contender for the world's most narrow puzzle: an M.C. Escher print that is almost 20x (!) as wide as it is long.

Manufactured by Italy-based Selegiochi, the puzzle is cut into 3000 pieces and divided into 4 panels. When each panel is complete and placed side by side, the final puzzle measures over 13 feet wide and 8 inches tall.

The puzzle is available on Amazon for a whopping $400 (and then an extra $50 for shipping). I'm not feeling particularly inclined to spending this amount on 4 x 750 piece puzzles, which is essentially what it is, so the fun stops here for now. However, if you're interested in further reading, head to swappuzzles.com for a detailed write-up.

From the Archives: Day and Night (Pomegranate, 1000pc)

This M.C. Escher puzzle was actually my first introduction to the Pomegranate brand. I received it as part of a "pass it forward" puzzle exchange, so it had been put together and taken apart once before. After finishing the puzzle myself, I noticed some of the pieces had spots where the picture was starting to split/tear from the cardboard base, so the long-term durability may be questionable.

Otherwise, excellent design and solid craftsmanship - puzzle pieces were sturdy with a precise fit. The finished puzzle would be easy to flip over, in case you wanted to tape/glue it as a wall decoration. Not too difficult overall, but with the monochromatic tone and repetitive line patterns, there were definitely some challenging spots. I got pretty hooked and finished it within a day.

At the time of posting, I wasn't able to find any online retailers with the item in stock (it's currently unavailable at Amazon). As mentioned above, I was given the puzzle as part of a one-way puzzle exchange, so I'll be passing it along to a friend soon!