Virginia

Peter’s career in woodworking grew out of a background in architecture and design. A native of southwest Virginia, he studied architecture at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. In 1969 he met and went to work for George Nakashima in New Hope, PA. Peter credits the years spent at Nakashima’s studio for much of his appreciation for wood and meticulous joinery. Then in 1975 Peter returned to the Blue Ridge Mountains to establish his own wood working studio.

Peter is a member of the Southern Highlands Handcrafts Guild, the Virginia Mountain Crafts Guild and the International Wood Collectors Society. Peter has developed a unique technique of cutting a single piece of wood into a three dimensional interlocking puzzle. The result is an animal that articulates and moves like the creature it represents. Peter’s puzzles have been featured on television and in many magazines and newspapers. He has also received numerous awards for his original designs.

Instructions & Hints to Solve Your Puzzle:

-Take your puzzle apart by removing the key piece and proceed from head to tail, removing one piece at a time. (In most puzzles the key piece is the eye. It is actually a dowel that locks the first two pieces together. The Cat is the exception.You will find the key piece dowel on the bottom of the cat’s tail.)

-Note that some pieces are vertical, some are horizontal. Alternately slide and lift the pieces to remove them.

-To put puzzle back together, you must go from tail to head, one piece at a time.

-If a piece does not move easily into place, do not force it. Pieces that fit go together easily.

How To Care For Your Puzzle:

Care is very simple; dust as you would any wood object. On solid – color puzzles, a little lemon oil may be used. Some snakes and fish have light and dark pieces. Do not apply oil to the light pieces, as that will darken them permanently.

If your puzzle is made out of Paduaka wood be sure to keep it out of the sunlight. Although Paduak will naturally darken over time, sunlight will turn it brown!

Because these puzzles contain small parts and delicate joints,

they are not intended for small children or rough play.

Peter Chapman