The Game of Four Queens
In 1988 the Danish School of Design set the examination project to design a pack of playing cards. Thomas Damkier designed this royalty deck, called “Dronningespillet” (Game of Queens).
The Game of Four Queens designed and created by Thomas Damkier, 1988
In 1988 the Danish School of Design set the examination project to design a pack of playing cards. All students passed the examination. Thomas Damkier was the designer of this royalty deck, which he called “Dronningespillet” (Game of Queens) since his concept was based upon the - at that time - four reigning queens: (in alphabetical order by kingdom) Margerethe II of Denmark, Elizabeth II of Great Britain, Beatrix of the Netherlands and Ntambi of Swaziland.
One of Thomas Damkier's ideas was to create a closer relation between the design of the courts and the number cards. The geometrical forms used for the number card designs are derived from the suit marks and the same forms are repeated in the appropriate court card designs. The Queens are framed in cropped versions of the suitmarks, the Kings and Princes again are framed by derived variations of the same forms. The number cards are divided into high and low values. Spades and Hearts are smaller than Clubs and Diamonds. The four lions on the Jokers are lions that - except for the African lion - can be found in the respective countries' heraldry.
Instead of using the elaborate laminated boards that the other students used for their presentations, Thomas Damkier, who was disabled, succeeded in presenting his work as a proper card deck.
Thomas Damkier died of sclerosis a few years later.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
British Monarchs
Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th
Paco Lobo
Highly original and striking designs by Paco Lobo for the fashion house of the same name.
Jeu Boléro
Sweeping, semi-abstract designs by J.L. Jolin in red and black only.
Knoll International
Geometric designs by the French artist Jean Garçon for Knoll International, the furniture company.
Marcello Morandini
Modern designs by Italian artist Marcello Morandini using the simplest of forms and colours.
Jeu Quatre Empereurs
Brazilian scenic aces with emperors of Brazil, Austria and France and other dignitaries on the court...
Claude Weisbuch
Free reinterpretation of the traditional Paris pattern courts by the artist Claude Weisbuch.
Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal
Historical playing cards by C. L. Wüst depicting monarchs of Brazil and Portugal.
El Niño de las Pinturas
Forty-nine distinctive works by Spanish graffiti artist Raúl Ruiz.
House of Tudor
Randy Butterfield's House of Tudor playing cards feature detailed art in a high-quality collectible ...
Pendleton playing cards
Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.
Old School Playing cards from Moon
Designed and published by Leo Scherfig
Kings of India playing cards
Kings of India playing cards depicting the four greatest dynasties of India.
Dandy Rock’n Bubble
56 rock and pop stars of the 1980s, issued in Denmark with bubble gum.
Royal Hawaiian playing cards
Royal Hawaiian playing cards published by the Royal Hawaiian Playing Card Company, Honolulu.
Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights (1001 Nights Tarot)
This tarot deck captures the idealised Eastern world's magic from the eighteenth and nineteenth cent...
ORIENT The Queen of Cards
A unique Art creation of Subho Tagore
Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur
Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur: Heroes vs. Villains playing cards illustrated by Peter Wood, 2015...
Instructive and Educational Playing Cards
Playing cards with an educational and instructive purpose first trended in mid-17th century France, ...
Baraja Española de Pintores Murcianos
A Spanish-suited pack as conceived by 48 different artists from the region of Murcia.
Le Jeu d’Issy
Bold designs by Jacques Auriac representing people and enterprises for which the town of Issy-les-Mo...
Bilder zum Tarot
Detailed pen and ink drawings of the major arcana by the German artist Helmut Wonschick.
Le Jeu de la Chance
Original designs by French artist Jean Vérame, with clubs replaced by four-leaf clovers to bring goo...
Jeanne l’Hachette
Jeanne l’Hachette reprint of 19th century transformation deck, Denmark, 1976.
Secretos de Oriente
Secrets of the Far East playing cards featuring the designs of Violeta Monreal , Spain, c. 1991.
Ases de la pintura / Masters of painting
Ases de la pintura / Masters of painting playing cards made by Naipes Comas, Spain, c.1990.
Velux International
Publicity pack for the Danish company, Velux, manufacturers of roof windows and skylights.
Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art playing cards designed by Takenobu Igarashi.
Festa Major de Vilafranca 1988
Colourful figures associated with the annual festival held in Vilafranca, Catalonia.
Crystal Time
Colourful and attractive designs by Violeta Monreal, inspired by stained glass through the ages.
Lidia Schöffer art-deco playing cards
A prize winning design from The Netherlands
Rois de France
Figures from French history restyled for a younger audience published by Quelle Histoire, 2015.
The British Royal visit to India playing cards
printed in Spain for British India in 1911.
Chinese Opera Masks Playing Cards 脸谱
Three different packs of cards featuring traditional Chinese face painting and Chinese opera masks.
Napoleonské karty
“Napoleonské karty” from the Czech Republic portraying monarchs and emperors.
Oude Kunst (Old Art) playing cards with Wüst courts
made for export to the Netherlands.
Histoire de France
“Histoire de France” facsimile of French historical deck of 1820.
Adolph Wulff Kort No.70
Playing cards for Denmark made by C.L. Wüst
Kings and Queens of Portugal
Cameo portraits of Portuguese royalty from 1128 to 1910.