Queen Maeve 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Portrait of the Irish Mythological Queen, Maeve. This wonderful artwork jigsaw puzzle is made in Ireland. Artist Rachel Arbuckle blends modern colors with her celtic art style.

Queen Maeve 1000 Piece Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzle

• 1000 Piece Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzle
• Queen Mave, patron saint of Ireland
• Inspired by ancient celtic art and the Book of Kells
• Combines vibrant modern colors with celtic art

Details

• Size C
• 1000 Pieces
• 50cm x 66.5cm
• 19.75" x 26.25" inches

Queen Maeve

Maeve was one of the great female figures in Irish legends. She was wealthy, powerful, desirable and a formidable opponent in battle. She was said to have run faster than horses, worn live animals and birds on her shoulders and slept with numerous Irish kings, discarding them as they failed to please her.

One morning Maeve was lying in bed with her current husband Ailill. By celtic tradition, whichever of the couple brought great wealth to the union became the ruler of the household. So Ailill and Maeve began comparing their possessions. They matched each other torc for torc and cloak for cloak until finally Ailill mentioned his magical great white bull which used to be in Maeve's herd, but had defected Ailill's side of the fence, considering it unseemly to belong to a woman.

The only beast in Ireland to match Ailill's bull was the Brown Bull of Cooley. Maeve vowed to take possession of the animal, and when her offer to buy it was turned down she gathered he armies and set out to invade Ulster and steal it.

The result was the Táin Bó CuailingeI, the cattle raid of Cooley, a lengthy battle in which many legendary heroes were slain. In the end Maeve did indeed win her bull, but it and Ailill's bull flung themselves upon each other, tore each other to bits, and died, leaving Maeve and Ailill's weatlth equal after all.

Rachel Arbuckle

Dublin born artist Rachel Arbuckle graduated from Dublin's National College of Art and Design in 1990.

She has always been fascinated by our Celtic heritage. Inspiration found in the intricate knotwork adorning the ancient manuscripts, stone and metalwork, coupled with Rachel's love of a good story, have combined to produce some of the most popular images in contemporary Irish Celtic Art.

Mythologicial warriors rub shoulders with ancient historical figures and intertwine with animals, birds and fish rendered in the artist's unique style.

Her colors, though modern, emulate the softness of the natural pigments used by the Celts and a discerning eye will recognise shades of both Tuscany, where Rachel currently lives, and the Beara Peninsula, where she thrives on the rugged West Coas of Ireland.

Today her work is available worldwide, bringing a taste of Ireland to the four corners of the earth.