Rare Wooden Dissection Puzzle 1890 - Antique Tangram - The Cocotte

1 UNIT
Step back in time with this charming antique French puzzle game, La Cocotte: Nouveau Casse-Tête, dating from the late 19th century. This delightful brain teaser features precision-cut wooden geometric pieces housed in their original illustrated box, accompanied by the original printed solution sheet.
Inspired by early tangram-style puzzles, La Cocotte challenges players to reassemble a stylized paper fortune-teller shape (“cocotte”) using only the provided wooden pieces. It’s a wonderful blend of elegance, logic, and timeless entertainment.

Details:
Title: La Cocotte – Nouveau Casse-Tête
Origin: France, circa 1890–1900
Materials: Wood pieces, printed paper box, original instruction sheet
Condition: Very good vintage condition; slight wear on box corners consistent with age
Language: French
Dimensions 7 cm x 7 cm x 1 cm.

A rare and charming piece of puzzle history — ideal as a gift or a conversation-starting addition to your vintage collection. Perfect for collectors of antique toys, lovers of vintage French ephemera, or anyone seeking a unique decorative curiosity for their shelf or game table.

Here’s a bit of context:

- The typography and art style (Art Nouveau influences and playful hand-drawn lettering) are consistent with printed materials from the 1880s to early 1900s.
- These kinds of boxed wooden puzzles became quite popular in France during that period, influenced by the rise of recreational mathematics and puzzles in newspapers and parlors.
- The signature “JFL” on the solution sheet is associated with Jean-François Léon, a designer or printer active during that era, which further supports the 1890s–1900s origin.

So, while an exact publication year might not be printed on the box, it's safe to place La Cocotte around circa 1890–1905.