Nutcracker Mantel Jigsaw Puzzle

Nutcracker Mantel at every size

Par is the time your score is measured against at that size. The rest is measured from the picture itself: how many pieces have a near-twin by colour once it is cut.

What the picture shows

A carved wooden mantelpiece decorated for Christmas, against dark green wallpaper with a small gold pattern. Eight painted nutcrackers stand along the shelf: a tall red guard in a black fur hat on the left, a tall green king with a sceptre on the right, and smaller red, green, blue and white ones between. With them stand candles in brass holders, a row of old books, a wooden mantel clock, a brass deer and a little lit house. A garland of pine, pine cones and dried orange slices runs along the shelf edge. A wreath with a red velvet bow hangs above, between framed pictures. Five knitted stockings hang below, over a fire in a brick grate.

Solving Nutcracker Mantel

Nutcrackers, books, the clock and the patterned stockings give the mantel about 8 pieces in 10 with a near-twin at 50 pieces, and none plain. The green wallpaper repeats its small gold pattern everywhere, and the share stays at about 8 in 10 at 100 pieces. From 500 pieces up the wallpaper and the dark wood go plain, about 1 piece in 5 at 1000, where about 9 in 10 have a near-twin.

Start with the clock and the books, then the nutcrackers on each side, tallest first. Place the candles, the deer and the little house. Lay the garland along the shelf edge. Hang the five stockings over the fire. Build the wreath and the framed pictures above, and fill the green wallpaper and the dark wood last.

Nutcracker Mantel is the second hardest Christmas board at 50 pieces, behind Winter Cabin, and sits in the middle of the set from 100 up. From 500 pieces only Winter Cabin has more plain pieces.

More christmas jigsaw puzzles

• Christmas EveA snowy high street at night with Christmas lights, wreaths and shoppers.
• Christmas MarketWooden Christmas market stalls and a carousel in a square of half-timbered houses at dusk.
• Gingerbread HouseA gingerbread house iced and covered in gumdrops on a floury kitchen table at Christmas.
• Tree OrnamentsGlass baubles, wooden toys and felt ornaments hung close on a real Christmas tree.
• Christmas CookiesIced Christmas cookies in stars, trees, bells and snowmen on a baking tray and a cooling rack.
• Snowy CottageA stone cottage with a red door and a holly wreath in an English village after snow.
• Toy Shop WindowAn old toy shop window at Christmas, with a train, teddy bears, a dolls' house and toy soldiers.
• Town Ice RinkSkaters lacing boots and circling a lit Christmas tree on an outdoor rink in an old town square.
• Reindeer FarmFour reindeer eating hay from a wooden trough by a red barn on a snowy farm.
• Cardinal in the HollyA red cardinal perched in a snowy holly bush, with a wooden bird feeder behind.
• Winter CabinA red Swedish cabin with white window frames among snowy pines, with a snowmobile and a sled outside.
• Christmas DinnerA Christmas dinner table with a carved turkey, crackers, candles and paper crowns.
• Snowman in the GardenA lopsided snowman in a striped scarf and bobble hat in a back garden after snow.
• Christmas Tree FarmA family pulling a cut Christmas tree on a cart past rows of firs on a snowy farm.
• Presents Under the TreeWrapped presents, a sleeping cat and a toy train under the Christmas tree by the fire.