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Jigsaw puzzles from Japan

Tiny pieces

On this page: 1000 tiny pieces: M. C. Escher - 1000 tiny pieces: Disney - 1000 tiny pieces: Beverly scenic - 1000 tiny pieces with magnifying glass

Separate page for: Yanoman postcard size: 204 tiny pieces

From around 2006, the Japanese puzzle manufacturers have been engaged in a battle for the "smallest". Starting with puzzles of one-and-a-half to two times as many pieces in the standard dimensions, these were merely small (and Japanese puzzles are typically 10% or so larger in area than European or North American puzzles of the same piece count). Then Tenyo produced a "World Smallest 1000-piece" series*, earning a place at Guinness World Records, shortly to be overtaken by Beverly, with 1000-piece puzzles at 300-piece size. These tiny pieces are not for the faint of heart, and you will need patience, delicate fingers, and very good eyesight!

* A3 size: two sheets of A4, or very roughly two sheets of "Letter" size if you're in the US.

Meanwhile, the latest from Yanoman is a series of postcard-sized 200-piece puzzles - these don't claim to break any records, but the pieces are even tinier, and the set includes a pair of plastic tweezers for those with blunt fingers. (See separate page)

Escher's fantasy world - 1000 tiny pieces

Waterfall
© Escher Holding BV

1000: Waterfall

This 1961 lithograph is another version of the impossible triangle object: perhaps it's no surprise that the object is impossible, since otherwise it would be a perpetual motion machine - the endlessly cycled water providing free power by turning the wheel. (Apparently Escher commented that it would be necessary to add water from time to time, to compensate for evaporation!)

This type of "impossible object" drawing uses perspective rules tbat are always correct over a small enough area (as in the detail image), yet break down when seen as a whole.

Detail

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Tenyo puzzle: 1000 pieces; 30 x 42 cm (12" x 17")
Code: TW10796 (TW-1000-796 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$23.26 €19.05 £15.50)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Ascending and descending
© Escher Holding BV

1000: Ascending and descending

This lithograph - first printed in 1960 - is Escher's interpretation of the endless staircase suggested by the English mathematician Lionel Penrose a couple of years earlier. One group of figures climbs constantly, the other group descends, yet they never get any further apart!

This type of "impossible object" drawing uses perspective rules tbat are always correct over a small enough area (as in the detail image), yet break down when seen as a whole.

Detail

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Tenyo puzzle: 1000 pieces; 30 x 42 cm (12" x 17")
Code: TW10795 (TW-1000-795 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$23.26 €19.05 £15.50)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Maurits Cornelis Escher

Signature

Escher signed his work with a blocky but meticulous version of his initials "MCE".

Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) was a Dutch artist, who produced many well-known images of mathematical fantasies, though he had no formal training in mathematics. Animals and birds metamorphose into geometrical shapes and back again - buildings follow geometrical rules, yet defy reality.

Disney puzzles - 1000 tiny pieces

Disney character world
© Disney

1000: Disney character world

Mickey and friends in the central circle are surrounded by all the Disney characters through the ages...

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Tenyo puzzle: 1000 pieces; 42 x 30 cm (17" x 12")
Code: TDW10260 (DW-1000-260 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$23.26 €19.05 £15.50)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Around the World Heritage with Mickey
© Disney

1000: Around the World Heritage with Mickey

Mickey the explorer shows us some of the great heritage sites of the world: Stonehenge, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, the pyramids...

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Tenyo puzzle: 1000 pieces; 42 x 30 cm (17" x 12")
Code: TDW10286 (DW-1000-286 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$23.26 €19.05 £15.50)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Mickey's Magic Shop
© Disney

1000: Mickey's Magic Shop

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Tenyo puzzle: 1000 pieces; 42 x 30 cm (17" x 12")
Code: TDW10259 (DW-1000-259 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$23.26 €19.05 £15.50)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Pooh and the big storm
© Disney

1000: Pooh and the big storm

A story-telling puzzle - of Pooh and the big storm...

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Tenyo puzzle: 1000 pieces; 42 x 30 cm (17" x 12")
Code: TDW10261 (DW-1000-261 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$23.26 €19.05 £15.50)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Beverly scenic - 1000 tiny pieces

Tsumago
Picture © Beverly Enterprises

1000: Tsumago - old post town

Position map

Amazingly well-preserved buildings line this street in Tsumago, a staging point where the old Nakasendo road begins to climb over the Japan Alps. Morning glory features in the foreground, while on the mountain side disappearing into mist, sugi (cryptomeria) trees tower over typically frothy bamboos.

Kanji sign Kanji sign

On the right is the famous Matsushiroya inn - here's how to read the signs in the picture. The juku means "a place to stay", referring to the town's status as a staging point.

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: BS71810 (S71-810 on box)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$18.60 €15.24 £12.40)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Taj Mahal
© Beverly Enterprises
Position map

1000: Taj Mahal

Perhaps the most beautiful building in the world, caught at one of the best moments, a clear dawn.

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: BS71806 (S71-806 on box)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$18.60 €15.24 £12.40)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Gansenji in autumn
© Beverly Enterprises
Position map

1000: Gansenji in autumn

This brilliantly painted pagoda is outdone (just!) by the dazzling red and yellow foliage of its surroundings.

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 26 x 38 cm (10" x 15")
Code: BS71813 (S71-813 on box)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$18.60 €15.24 £12.40)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Mt. Fuji from Oshino
© Beverly Enterprises
Position map

1000: Fuji from Oshino

Fuji towers above the village of Oshino, with its preserved old cottages and placid millpond.

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: BS71803 (S71-803 on box)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$18.60 €15.24 £12.40)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Beverly art puzzles including magnifying glass - 1000 tiny pieces

These are all very intricate designs — mandalas, full of tiny figures, and mosaic puzzles made from upwards of one thousand tiny images...

Kannon mandala
© Hiroshi Yagi

1000: Kannon mandala

The Kannon of the title appears right in the centre of this mandala, in her many-armed form. This is a very intricate pattern, so the accompanyting magnifying glass will probably be needed!

Detail

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle is supplied with a magnifying glass.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 26 x 38 cm (10" x 15")
Code: BM81507 (M81-507 on box)
Normally ¥2200 - special offer 5% off: ¥2090 (approx. US$24.30 €19.90 £16.20)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Shaka Nyorai mandala
© Hiroshi Yagi

1000: Shaka Nyorai mandala

Shaka Nyorai is the Buddha, sitting serenely in the middle of this world-view, and surrounded by more holy figures—outside this inner sanctum are scenes from the profane world, of lotus ponds, music, and the rest.

Detail

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle is supplied with a magnifying glass.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 26 x 38 cm (10" x 15")
Code: BM81508 (M81-508 on box)
Normally ¥2200 - special offer 5% off: ¥2090 (approx. US$24.30 €19.90 £16.20)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Mona Lisa mosaic

1000: Mona Lisa mosaic

Leonardo's enigmatic lady... painted around 1502-1506, and also known as La Gioconda.

Detail

The detail image shows the subject's right eye.

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle is supplied with a magnifying glass.

* This puzzle picture is made from more than a thousand tiny images.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 26 x 38 cm (10" x 15")
Code: BM81511 (M81-511 on box)
Retail price ¥2200 (approx. US$25.58 €20.95 £17.05)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Sights of Tokyo
© Naoki Tanaka
Position map

1000: Sights of Tokyo

Tokyo has its share of landmarks — the historic red-brick station features prominently, and the scene is crowded with other buildings, ancient and modern. Of course there is also Mount Fuji in the distance.

There is a key in English on the back of the box.

Detail

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle is supplied with a magnifying glass.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: BM81501 (M81-501 on box)
Retail price ¥2200 (approx. US$25.58 €20.95 £17.05)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Girl with a Pearl Earring

1000: Girl with a Pearl Earring

One of Vermeer's masterpieces, here reproduced as a mosaic of 1350 tiny images of other paintings.

Detail

The detail image shows just the subject's pearl earring.

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle is supplied with a magnifying glass.

* This puzzle picture is made from more than a thousand tiny images.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 26 x 38 cm (10" x 15")
Code: BM81512 (M81-512 on box)
Retail price ¥2200 (approx. US$25.58 €20.95 £17.05)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Sights of Kyoto
© Naoki Tanaka
Position map

1000: Sights of Kyoto

All the famous sites of Kyoto — the golden pavilion, the rock garden, Kiyomizudera, festivals and more — in one jolly picture...

There is also a key in English on the back of the box.

Detail

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle is supplied with a magnifying glass.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: BM81502 (M81-502 on box)
Retail price ¥2200 (approx. US$25.58 €20.95 £17.05)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
Buy this puzzle Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)

Yanoman postcard size - 204 tiny pieces

With pieces even smaller than the 1000-piece puzzles on this page, these 204-piece puzzles present a real challenge. The range includes Ukiyo-e prints, Tokyo scenes, Hello Kitty character vignettes, and classics of Western art - see the whole collection

Petit

View puzzles - Postcard size, with tiny pieces

Titles
In stock:12
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204

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204

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204

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