VINTAGE

U-NIT PICTURE PUZZLE

1968

FABULOUS

JOHN PIKE

BEARSVILLE STORE

WOODEN JIGSAW PUZZLE

800+ PIECES

105 FIGURALS

This is an absolutely fabulous and rare U-nit Picture Puzzle from circa 1968 (but as early as 1951) titled “Bearsville Store” featuring an outdoor rainy day scene along Route 212 in Bearsville / Woodstock NY, the artists studio location. It is COMPLETE and looks wonderful!

You don’t see large ones like this very often and I have others up to 1200 pieces as well.

It has 105 figural pieces as shown in the photos, almost every piece touches one! It is about 18” by 27” in size (forgot to measure exactly). It has about 800 pieces. The original box is in good shape overall with normal wear from age and use for almost 75 years. Based on the address in the box these are most likely from the 1950’s. Puzzle pieces excellent, bright color no fading, no mildew or smoking odors. In excellent overall condition. Box looks great just normal wear from age and use, please see the photos for details. The puzzle is COMPLETE with no damage that I saw to any of the pieces.

Artist of the image: Pike (1911-1979)

Born: Boston MA

Studied: Charles Hawthorne, Richard Miller

Member: National Academy of Design, Salmagundi Club, Allied Artist, American Watercolor Society, Society of Illustrators, Woodstock Artist Association, Southwest Watercolor Society (Honorary), Philadelphia Watercolor Society and Grand Central Galleries.

The extent of John Pike's formal art study was with both well-known artists Charles Hawthorne and Richard Miller. At sixteen years of age Mr.Pike went to Provincetown, Massachusetts to study under Charles Hawthorne, here is where he gained a great deal from the standpoint of color and values. At the same time he also studied under Richard Miller in portraiture.

John Pike's personal inspiration was from a great Bostonian "boy genius" named John Whorf. When Mr. Pike was eight or nine (Whorf was 21) his Sunday school teacher "Sarah" who happened to be John Whorf's mother held a class gathering at her house that Mr. Pike attended. While at the house Mr. Pike observed Mr. Whorf painting. From that point on Mr. Pike started his long journey into painting watercolors.

While operating the John Pike Watercolor School in Woodstock, N.Y. 1960-1979, he attracted many professional artists from around the country. The reputation of the school was such that corporations, ad agencies, etc., sent their artists for advanced study. At the time of his death in 1979 he had done over sixty one-man shows.

IMPORTANT REGARDING THE U-NIT PUZZLES LISTED:

These puzzles came from one family and are in excellent well kept condition. The collection contains a number is larger hard to find U-nit puzzles as well.

Below please see more info about the history of U-nit Puzzles.

U-Nit Puzzles were made from 1932 during the depression until the early 1970's spanning nearly 40 years. Hand made from thin 3-layer 1/4 inch plywood that had an actual thickness of approximately 3/16 inch. Early puzzles were Basswood veneer on top and bottom with a core. During World War II around 1942 plywood became scarce as the U.S. government controlled the market because the plywood was being used to manufacture PT boats for the war. At this time, Browning was forced to make his own plywood panels which he did. Using a Basswood core he experimented with different woods of varying thicknesses finally deciding on Spanish cedar veneer which can be identified by its reddish brown color and straight grain. The wood was assembled using Borden Elmer's Powdered Waterproof Glue with the panels separated by waxed paper and then compressed in his own screw press for one to two days.

Probably the best was to identify and date these antique puzzle is by the labels used on the boxes. U-Nit Puzzles were never well marketed and the majority were hand packaged in hand-made boxes. The only branding or logo ever used was the printed "U-NIT Puzzle" on the labels with a hand-written title and piece count. Since many of Browning's puzzles were often distributed in stores and rented like movies of their time, they can often be found with different labels with no reference to the maker. He did sell many puzzles throughout New Jersey, New York and into Pennsylvania including resorts, hotels and an unknown number to F.A.O. Schwarz. Early puzzles may have no address on the label while in following years there is an address at the bottom. The addresses include the New Jersey towns of Newark (1928), East Orange (1932), West Caldwell (1951) and Forked River (1971). Here are some examples of the labels.