puzzle

puzzle

Two puzzles, light-colored wood in the shape of a bird with a red-colored wood figure with upraised arms in the center. The figure in a) is wearing pants; the figure in b) is wearing a skirt. Tags give title as "in the flame of the Holy Ghost," part of Inside Stories series made by Robert Strobridge, SL, in France. Pictured on p. 23 of "Inside Stories, Moving Events, Fitting Subjects."

From an Inside Stories pamphlet: "The real Inside Stories are cut from 1/2" basswood or framire with a jigsaw one-at-a-time...The 'point of entry' is important and often symbolic because the inside and the outside (the figure and the ground) are contiguous shapes that complete each other in puzzling ways. / Not satisfied to keep these (and doubtless additional) stories INSIDE any longer, I'd like to sell or consign them to someone like you, who sells things to people OUTSIDE." From a 1979 price list: "The contiguous 'inside/outside' pieces of wood come apart like a puzzle. They are stained mahogany, walnut, painted bright colors or left natural to clarify the figure and ground."

Robert Strobridge, CoL

4.75" x 4"

Woodwork

2011.003.004a-b