Baronesse Whist No.160
After the Second World War, the deck continued to be produced both by the VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik as “Rokoko” and by ASS-Spielkartenfabrik, Leinfelden-Echterdingen as “Baronesse”.
Dondorf: “Baronesse” Whist No.160
All the court figures in this very popular design wear white powdered wigs and velvet clothing; the ladies wear pearl necklaces and low-cut dresses, revealing their décolletages. The deck first appeared sometime in the early 1900s. After the Second World War, the deck continued to be produced both by the VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik as “Rokoko” and by ASS-Spielkartenfabrik, Leinfelden-Echterdingen as “Baronesse”. The same designs were used in "Patience Cards for Women N 130" by Faustino Solesio of Genoa, c. 1944/1945.
This pack had many editions including some in patience format and was exported in large numbers and different formats, with indices tailored for their destination country. In some cases the suit signs are transposed to different figures (click image to see example). The early editions are fine examples of Dondorf's marvellous chromolithography. The example shown here has no indices; corner indices started to appear around 1906, when the company name changed to Dondorf GmbH.
Above: cards from Dondorf's “Baronesse” Whist No.160, first published c.1900. The patience version was called No 164 Patience Karten. The inscription on the Jack of Clubs reads: "B. Dondorf / Frankfurt a/M". Printed by chromolithography; 52 cards + 2 Jokers in box; 92mm x 60mm. (Click image to zoom). Images courtesy Barney Townshend.
Later editions of Baronesse Patience were published by A.S.S. trading as Ace Playing Card Company, Leinfelden and also “Coeur”, containing the same court card designs and three jokers.
See also: Piatnik Rococco Mini-Patience→
By Barney Townshend
United Kingdom • Member since October 06, 2015
Retired Airline Pilot, interested in: Transformation Playing Cards, Karl Gerich and Elaine Lewis. Secretary of the EPCS. Treasurer of the IPCS.
Activity for Baronesse Whist No.160
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
New Altenburg Skat cards – German DDR Pattern
Authentic Altenburger Skat cards with German suits (Acorns, Hearts, Leaves, Bells).
Englische Karten nr.190
Dondorf Nr.190“Englische Karten”, 1867-1895.
Bahlsen Skat
Publicity pack for a German food company, featuring some of their products.
Iduna Skat
Advertising pack for a Hamburg building society featuring pigs in disguise.
Rococo Whist-Bridge Nr.53
printed by Flemming-Wiskott A.G. of Glogau
Dondorf related ephemera
A few items used for advertising or displaying Dondorf playing card products.
Kaffeehaus-Pikett
Kaffeehaus-Pikett featuring the old Viennese Large Crown pattern, made by ASS.
DSA Textil Berlin
Felix-Karte pack for Erste Deutsche Sack-Centrale / DSA Textil Berlin manufactured by VEB Altenburge...
German Saxon Pattern
The German Saxon Pattern or “Schwerdter Karte”.
Empire No.170
The Queens, who wear short sleeved dresses with bonnets adorned with chin straps and roses, hold a r...
Birma Karte or Englische Karten
Based upon older ‘standard’ patterns, the Kings and Queens are three-quarter length figures whilst t...
Hauptstadte Spiel
Each Ace shows views of two European capital cities.
Hundertjahrkarte
A new ‘medieval look’ is intended to suggest the power and virtue of the German character.
Whist No.178 ‘Stuart Zeit’
Although not historically accurate this example is subtitled “Stuart period”, with rich costumes cre...
Rokoko-Bild No.158
This pattern was published between 1889-1933, at first with no Joker, which was added in 1906 along ...
Einköpfige Deutsche Spielkarte No.303
Dondorf's ‘Einköpfige Deutsche Spielkarte No.303’ (‘Single-ended German Playing Cards’) were produce...
Club Karte
There have been many variations in the design of “Club Karte” including the introduction of borders,...
Poker No. 140
Dondorf Poker-Karte No. 195, re-issued as Poker No. 140 for the "Argentina Compañia General de Naveg...
Jany Group
Deck issued to celebrate the Jany Group of Private Investors acquiring a controlling majority of Ver...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
Glo Lexa
28 April 2026, 01:01SavedSaved this article to Suit systems