Antique playing cards – O. Gibert, c. 1850-1853
€1.650
ANTIQUE FRENCH PLAYING CARDS WITH HISTORICAL COSTUME ILLUSTRATIONS, C. 1850–1853
“Jeu des costumes historiques français“, a complete set of 52 playing cards, steel engravings published by O. Gibert in Paris, c. 1850–1853. Original hand colouring. Dimensions: each card 8.3 × 5.4 cm; framed 70 × 66 cm.
This decorative nineteenth-century French deck of playing cards depicts famous figures from French history. The familiar, highly stylised figures found on traditional playing cards have been replaced by elegant, full-length characters, depicted with remarkable attention to costume, posture and historical setting.
The kings and queens do not represent actual monarchs but famous noblemen, courtiers and their lovers. Each suit features its own historical characters:
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Spades: the Count of Brissac and Diane de Poitiers , the influential mistress of King Henry II of France.
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Hearts: the Chevalier d’Éon , a diplomat, spy and one of the most talked-about personalities of the eighteenth century (born male, but lived the latter half of their life as a woman), and the Countess of Rochefort.
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Clubs: Bussy d’Amboise , the notorious courtier of Henry III, and the Lady of Monsoreau, whose story was later romanticised by Alexandre Dumas in his novel La Dame de Monsoreau.
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Diamonds: the Marquis of Cinq-Mars , the young favourite of Louis XIII, who was executed for conspiring against Cardinal Richelieu, and Marion Delorme , a celebrated Parisian courtesan.
The jacks, by contrast, represent members of the servant class. They appear as elegantly dressed servants and pages: a young man with a greyhound, a groom with a horse, a servant carrying a tray, and a valet de pied (footman) holding a ceremonial staff. The differences in clothing, accessories and posture make each card a miniature costume illustration in its own right.
The aces are equally elaborate, with the four suit symbols enclosed in refined ornamental frames. The remaining numeral cards feature the traditional French suit symbols.
The combination of historical personalities and richly detailed costumes reflects the nineteenth-century French fascination with the past. The deck was intended not only for playing card games but could also be appreciated as a collection of miniature, meticulously executed costume prints.
Price: Euro 1650,- (incl. frame)
