Your puzzle is made of real wood, printed directly onto the surface. Wood responds to the room it lives in, which is part of what makes it worth keeping and the reason a little care goes a long way.
None of this is difficult. It is the same care you would give a framed print or a good book.
Where to keep it
Keep it out of direct sunlight. Sunlight fades printed color over time and darkens bare wood unevenly.
Keep it away from heat. Radiators, fireplaces, sunny windowsills and attics all cause wood to warp.
Avoid damp rooms. Bathrooms, unheated garages, basements and conservatories move through humidity swings that wood does not enjoy.
The simplest rule: if the room is comfortable for you, it is comfortable for the puzzle.
Handling and cleaning
Handle with clean, dry hands. The oils that transfer from skin are the most common cause of marking over years of use.
Wipe with a dry, soft cloth only. Never use water, household cleaner, alcohol, polish or anything abrasive. The image is printed onto the surface of the wood and solvents will lift it.
Do not wash or soak the pieces at any point.
If a piece feels tight, do not force it. Wood expands slightly in humid weather and the fit returns as the room settles.
Storing it
Store the pieces loose in the box they arrived in. The box is built to sit on a shelf, spine out, alongside your other editions.
If you stack boxes instead, keep the stack low and put nothing heavy on top. Pieces held under pressure for long periods can take a set.
Keep the certificate and the registration card in the box, away from sunlight. Both are printed on cotton stock. The certificate carries your edition number, hand-written, alongside the artist's signature and ours, which is what makes it the record of the piece you own.
Assembling it
Work on a clean, dry, flat surface. A felt mat or a board protects both the table and the pieces, and lets you move an unfinished puzzle without disturbing it.
Take your time. It is meant to be slow.
Framing and display
Lumenea pieces fit together gently rather than locking tight, so a finished edition shouldn't be lifted by hand. To move it, slide a thin rigid board underneath and carry it flat.
To frame it, take it to your framer on that board. A frame with glass or acrylic pressed against a backing board holds the pieces in place without glue, and we encourage you not to glue yours. Glue is irreversible, it can warp the wood as it dries, and it ends the puzzle's life as a puzzle.
Hang away from direct sunlight, and never above a radiator or fireplace. Glazing with a UV filter is worth asking your framer about.
Ask for acid-free, archival mounting materials. A good framer will offer this without being asked.
Kitchens and bathrooms are the two rooms to avoid, for cooking residue in one and steam in the other.
Your number
Your edition number appears in three places: on the base of the box, on your certificate, and on your registration card. All three carry the same number, written by hand.
Registering your edition puts your number on record with us. It is not required, and it is the only way we can reach you about the piece you own.
If something is wrong
If a piece is missing or your edition arrives damaged, write to hello@lumenea.art. Our full terms, including time limits, are in the Returns Policy.