500pc 12 Days of Christmas

Wentworth launched Rachel Arbuckle’s ’12 Days of Christmas’ in the Winter 2012 Collection in sizes ‘W,T,S,R,N’ (250pc, 500pc, 750pc, 1000pc, 1500pc). Each size had a different whimsy set, with the 250pc & 500pc being the most customised to the image. It was re-released in the Christmas 2013 & 2014 collections.

The artwork is very clever and repays close study. The top half features the birds in the song (days 1-7) whilst the lower half features the human protagonists (days 8, 9, 10) - the border contains the musicians 9, 11, 12 days). All the people are interlaced together through legs, arms or hair/beards.

The 500pc cut features whimsies of all the presents in the last verse of the song. That's right, '12 drummers, 11 pipers, 10 lords ... partridge & pear tree' (centre). This makes the whimsies-out photo (right) look like a colourful lace doily.

Rachel Arbuckle is an Irish artist inspired by Celtic knotwork. This image and many others by Rachel also appeared in cardboard versions by Irish producer Tailten/Purrfect.

Artist: Rachel Arbuckle
Date: 2012
Brand: Wentworth
Range:
Material: MDF wood composite
Nationality: British-England
Number: 610501
Pieces: 500
Size: c20x14in
Theme: Music; Celtic; Knot-work; Pattern
Title: The Twelve Days of Christmas