"Playing cards 727" : International pattern IX

  "Playing cards" [international pattern]  , "727", 52 + 3

This deck of playing cards was made in Indonesia, . It is yet another example of the most far-reaching of all patterns of playing cards; the international pattern.

This deck is a rather ordinary deck. It was cheaply produced , and printed in only three colours ( compare http://anthonylesq.blogspot.sg/2012/03/international-pattern-part-i.html and http://anthonylesq.blogspot.sg/2012/03/international-pattern-ii-anon.html).

However, perhaps the most attractive feature of the deck are it's ace of spades and back design. The Indonesians, lovers of pattern and ornament, have exercised their imagination into designing these two cards. The ace of spades is a baroque creation, a mass of acanthus and flowers forming the symbol of that suit. The back design is a equally elaborate pattern of tritons and mermaids, frolicking amongst vines.

Spades ( note ace)

The packaging also shows the ace of spades.

Diamonds.

The back design. The overall structure resembles the backs of "bicycle" playing cards, but far more elaborate.

Sadly, the jokers are less ornate than the backs or ace.

Dutch Scenic aces 1- "Bridge plastic coated

"Bridge/canasta plastic coated" [Scenic aces], anon, 52c + Joker ( incomplete?)
 
We present here an example of a particular genre of playing cards, the "scenic aces". These cards have been produced since the 19thc, and are particularly popular in the Netherlands and Belgium. What sets them apart is the depiction of landscapes on the Aces.

The court cards themselves are unremarkable, being of the standard "Belgian pattern" .

Observe how each side of the ace contains a different landscape.

Here are closeups of the Aces.

The landscapes here appear to be sorted out by Geographical region. England, is represented by Big Ben and Canterbury cathedral. Europe, by the Doge's palace and the Eiffel tower, Africa/Asia by the sphinx and Borobudur, and America by the Capitol and the statue of livery.

Note the depiction of the statue of liberty on the ace of spades. Compare it with the depiction in http://anthonylesq.blogspot.sg/2011/10/belgian-pattern-katja.html

 

 

 



Kabu cards- "Komaru" ( Nintendo)

Komaru (小丸)- Nintendo 40c. + onifuda + spare

We have another deck of kabu cards, this one known as the "Komaru" - small circle. This deck is identical on structure to the Mefuda previously mentioned, but the differig illustations are the point of interest here. Whilst the mefuda look like the the work of a child or a very sloppy colourer, this deck is less abstract, and the circles more... circular.

 Here the ace retains a more or less serpentine form, as as opposed to the simple black card with 2 lines of the mefuda. However, the court card here is less abstract than the mefua, bearing the vague appearence of a scowling soldier wearing a hat .The 2s are also encased in a frame, along with the central pip of the 5s.

 Again, one of the aces, threes and fours recive special decoration.

-Komaru-

Key:

1st row ( L-R) 6, 7, 8, 9, ( knave)

2nd row ( L-R)  (ace),2, 3,4, 5,

"Special cards" 4 of batons ( replaces one of the 4s), ace, and 3( L-R)

"Bresciane" ( Dal Negro)

"Bresciane" ( Dal Negro), 52c.

Another Bresciane, this time by Dal negro. Compare http://anthonylesq.blogspot.sg/2011/11/bresciane-modanio.html
Note the ace of coins. ( 1st Pic,  1st row, 1st from right)  In this deck It is a blank circle. This is a relic form the days where cards were taxed. A space was left on the ace of coins so as to allow the tax-stamp to be placed on it .

"Junior playing cards" ( 'ace')

"Junior playing cards" , by "ace" - International pattern, 54c.

The following children's deck is printed on an astonishingly flimsy stock ( more the consistency of cellopahne than cardboard) , which is almost seetrough. Nevertheless, it's small size ( 3.5 x 2.5 cm) and how the maker has faithfully reproduced almost every detail of it's larger cousin, lends the deck some charm,

"Jednohlavé" ( prague pattern) Piatnik

"Jednohlavé" (prague pattern) by Piatnik , 32c.
this deck is the "prague" or "bohemian" pattern. In my opinion , this deck is one of the most charming of the german suited decks. 
Note the rather crudely drawn lion on the ace of acorns ( 1st pic, 4th from left)
This deck is similar to to the franconian pattern,
(http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2012/01/franconian-pattern-ass.html)
and bears similarities to the Salzburg pattern
( http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/salzburger-bild-einfachdutche.html)
EDIT; As pointed out by Marnen,  Jednohlavé means "Single headed". 

Tarocco bolognese , Dal negro- part I

Tarocco bolognese , Dal negro. 62 cards.
 the court cards of this deck are almost identical to the ones in the "primera bolognese " pattern http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/primera-bolognese-modanio.html, save with the addition of queens.

It would also be of interest that this pattern  was one of the first patterns to be double faced, ( c. 1800)

"schafkopf" ( bavarian pattern playing cards, stralsund type)

Barvarian pattern playing cards by F.X schmidt. 36 c.
this version of the bavarian pattern is called the 'stralsund' type, so called because it was made in stralsund. http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/bavarian-pattern-playing-cards-munchen.html
there are very small diffrences between this and the München type, most naotbly in the ober of acorns, who carries a triangular shield here insted of a oval one in the München type. also note the 10 of hearts, whos central pips are green & yellow, unlike the stralsund's plain red.

castilian pattern by fournier

castilian pattern by fournier. 4 cards + 2 others.

This pattern is one of the most copied patterns, and the ace of coins has been copied by countless makers , esp. in saouth america. I rest my case.

see also: http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/spanish-playing-cards.html

Genoa pattern ( "genovesi")

Genoa pattern ( "genovesi") by Modanio.
40 cards.
this pattern is actually a belgian pattern in almost everything but name. the only differnce being the shape of the sheild carried by the jack of clubs viz: it having scalloped instead of straight edges.however, on this deck, Modanio seems to have forgotten this feature, so, what we have here is actually a belgian deck, but with 40 cards and no indexes!

see also: http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/belgian-pattern-katja.html
http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/paris-pattern-grimaud.html
http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/piemontesi-piedmont-pattern.html
http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/paris-pattern-single-faced.html

Paris pattern ( France Cartes)

This deck is of the paris pattern, and of 32 cards.
this deck is not very interesting, until you compare it with other decks.
try comparing it with ....
http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/paris-pattern-cards.html
http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/paris-pattern-single-faced.html
http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/russian-playing-cards-by-piatnik.html
***
A very interesting feature of this deck is the fact that the court cards have names...
                  king               queen            jack
spades      David         Pallas       Hogier
cubs          Alexander  Argine      Lancelot
hearts       charles      Judith       Lahire
diamonds  cesar         Rachel      Hector

Now, to say that the cards actually  represent the people above (something commonly claimed) is just a matter of wishful thinking. the only exception being the king of spades, ( David) carries a harp, an instrument associated with that king.

"piemontesi" ( piedmont pattern)

 Piedmont pattern by Modanio.
40 cards.
note the decorative borders round the aces.
This pattern retains some hints of the paris pattern. for example, the fan on the queen of clubs.

see also: http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/paris-pattern-single-faced.html

Bavarian pattern playing cards ( münchen type)

Bavarian pattern playing cards."kurze scharfe"
by FX schmid
24 cards.
there are two types of bacvarian pattern, the münchen type, and the Stralsund type.
they are very similar, with only very slight diffrences between them, the most obvious being that the ober of acorns has a  round shield on the munchen type, and a pointed one on the Stralsund type
for a münchen type deck, see:
 http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/11/schafkopf-bavarian-pattern-playing.html

"magyar kártya"

"magyar kártya" by" luxus", commonly known as "william tell" or "seasons pattern"
32 cards.
this deck is another german-suited pattern, but, unlike the other german suited patterns, it mantains the vinegettes on the number cards, E.G - the death of gessler on the 7 of hearts.

note the fact that the kings ride horses. this is unique amongst the german patterns.

the reason why this deck is called the 'tell'pattern is because the ober of acorns( 1st pic, 2nd row, 3rd from lest) is named 'william tell' ( or tell vilmos in hungarian ) . the other coury cards (kings excepting) are also named after characters in the tell legend. the ober of hearts ( 2nd pic, 2nd row, 3rd from left) is named"herman gessler"- tell's arch enemy.
As for the name "seasons pattern"- well, the 4 aces depict the 4 seasons.

saxony pattern cards, single vs double faced

The first deck shown is a traditional saxony patter, which is, in my opinion, the prettiest of the decks to come out of Germany.

the suit of bells (2nd picture) is particularly charming.
Note the Peeping Tom on the ace ( top row, 3rd card from left) 
on the 8 of bells ( 3rd pic, 2nd row, first card from the left), there is a depiction of chickens mating.
above them are strung some sausages. nice.....

sadly, this patern is almost extinct right now. if you buy a saxon pattern, today, you would end up with the "double faced "version...

when you compare the pictures, it is easy why this is called the double faced version.
aldough this version is admittedly easier to play with, it has lost some of the  detail, like the little pictures on the bottom of the cards, ( on the eight of bells, there are neither sausages nor trysting chickens) but still, some features remain (like the roman number X on tens, and the peeping tom on the ace of bells)