Picture-tray jigsaw puzzle, with 11 pieces, plywood, 'Mariners', designed by Freda Skinner and probably manufactured and sold by Paul & Marjorie Abbatt Ltd., England, mid 1930s.

A wooden picture-tray puzzle of an ocean scene painted in light blue, pale grey, white, mustard yellow, green, red and black. The pieces consist of a lighthouse, seagull, ocean liner, two fish and two waves, and also a rowing boat in which two sailors are seated, wearing white trousers, red jerseys and black hats and shoes, and both with yellow beards. They are rowing with two oars each, again painted mustard yellow and painted onto the base. Nine of the eleven pieces have a small, wooden knob attached by a metal pin, which is painted either yellow, green or red. The puzzle is made from layers of plywood. The upper layer has been painted and machine cut to form the loose puzzle pieces and surround, the latter having been pinned onto the unpainted base. The whole is framed by a varnished oak framing, again pinned in place.

Given by Paul Hetherington

This picture tray puzzle was produced by Paul and Marjorie Abbatt Ltd., and sold as one of their range of puzzles. A version of it was first inrtroduced in the arly 1930's, when the Abbatt's first started to manufacture, import and sell toys. It was designed by Freda Skinner, who was one of the first designers that the Abbatts employed. It was given to the donor when a young child in the late 1930's, and was probably purchased for him from the Abbatt's toy shop in Wimpole Street, London. It is assumed that it was signed, at the request of the donor, by Freda Skinner later, as she was a colleague of the donor at Wimbledon School of Art.

Historical significance: This puzzle is a good and particularly early example of the type of well-designed wooden toys manufactured and sold by the Paul and Marjorie Abbatt Ltd. It is also a good example of the early design work of Freda Skinner when first employed by the Abbatts.

Although not marked Abbatt Toys, it is assumed that this puzzle was manufactured by Paul and Marjorie Abbatt Ltd. as a near-identical puzzle appears in an Abbatt's catalogue from the early 1930s, at a time when Freda Skinner was employed the firm as a designer.

This jigsaw was designed by Freda Skinner for Paul and Marjorie Abbatt Ltd, and sold as part of their range of picture-tray jigsaw puzzles. It first appeared in their catalogue in the mid- to late 1930s, and was amongst the first toys sold by the Abbatts, who very quickly, after starting their business in 1933, enjoyed a reputation as pioneers and promoters of well-designed toys. This jigsaw was bought for the donor in the late 1930s, when he was four or five years old.

B.197:1 to 12-2010