Animal Tarot
Woodblock and stencil Animal Tarot cards, probably of Swiss origin, 2nd half 18th century.
Bavarian Animal Tarot
Tarots with French suit signs started appearing in around 1750, notably by Andreas Göbl of Munich. Subjects depicted on the trump cards varied, but during the 18th century there was a preference for pictures of animals or hunting scenes. The number cards were often reduced so that packs consisted of only 54 cards. Towards the end of the century mythological and literary subjects started to appear as well. The Fool was usually depicted as a harlequin, often dancing and playing a musical instrument.
As they have no titles or legends, the images on the trump cards must speak for themselves. Sometimes they appear to depict fables or folk sayings, perhaps even suggesting a moralising interpretation. In trump XIII we see a person being devoured by a crocodile: this is indeed unfortunate! On trump XVII a cat has caught a fish...
Note
These cards were owned by my 3 x great grandfather Jacob Detwiller of Langenbruck Switzerland near Basel. Since the town of Mümliswil is in Canton Solothurn next door to Canton Basel, it seems likely that was where they may have been printed and where they may have been acquired with inscription in French: "Å MUMLISWIL".
Detwillers have lived in Langenbruck since at least the 16th century. The cards were found by my Gr. Grandfather J.J. Detwiller and my grandfather CH Detwiller in a silver cigar(?) case along with some brass dice in his hunting lodge at Neunbrunnen (Nine Springs) when Jacob died 1878. The house is still extant as a Gasthof (see old view: www.gast-hof-spittel.ch/►
We also inherited a couple of Swiss-German 17th-18th century hunting swords (and the bronze stag hooks from which they hung in the dining room at the Neunbrunnen lodge. The hunting swords (and perhaps the tarot cards) probably originally belonged to 4 x Gr. Grandfather Heinrich Dettwiler (1760-1814, or his father of same name b.1718) of Langenbruck. The first to settle in Langenbruck was Jacob Dätwyler (old spelling) of Saget near Zofingen in 1582.
Thanks again to Marc Flöter for your information in the comment below - F.D.
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 Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Frauejass
‘Frauejass / le Jass au féminin’ designed by Susan Csomor, Switzerland, c. 1998.
Bourbon Bridge
Attractive, woodcut-style courts adapted for modern play.
Bischofszell
Advertising pack for the food producer Bischofszell, designed by Heinz Looser-Brenner, with non-stan...
Scheffmacher
Advertising pack for Scheffmacher, master painters in Schaffhausen, with comic designs by Fritz Bünz...
Portrait de Fribourg
Fine reproduction of a Fribourg pattern pack, originally by Jean-Jacques Burdel.
Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger
Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger, Passau, Bavaria, early 19th century.
Tavaglione playing cards
Well-designed pack by Giorgio Tavaglione, with courts in medieval costume.
Animal Tarot by Joseph Fetscher
French-suited Natural History Tarot deck by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1820.
Mythological and Allegorical tarot
Mythological and Allegorical tarot produced by Peter Paul Fetscher junior, Munich.
Animal Tarot by Andreas Benedict Göbl
French-suited Animal Tarot deck produced by Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich.
Swiss Scenic Tarock
Scenic Tarock deck produced by Fabrique de Cartes J. Müller & Cie (Schaffhouse), Suisse.
Costumes of Turkey Tarot
‘National Costumes of Turkey’ tarot by Industrie Comptoir, Leipzig, c.1800-1825.
Natural History Tarot
Natural History Tarot published by G M, Germany, early 19th C.
Animal Tarot by J. B Dubois
French-suited Bavarian Animal Tarot by J B Dubois, Liège, Belgium, late 18th C.
Æsop’s Fables tarot
French-suited Æsop’s fables tarot produced by Leipzig Industrie Comptoir, c.1800-1825.
Animal Tarot by J. T Dubois
Early 19th century Animal Tarot pack produced by J T Dubois, Liège, Belgium.
Animal Tarot by G. Larmoyer
Flemish Animal Tarot deck by G. Larmoyer, Liège, 1753.
Vues et Caractères Suisses No.228
A Swiss souvenir pack by Dondorf
The New Game of Tarot (or Tarock)
Regional costumes and alpine flora on a French Tarot game pack marking 600 years of playing cards in...
Schwyzer Fasnachts-Jass
Traditional carnival figures from the Swiss canton Schwyz, as interpreted by the artist Léon Schnyde...
Joker Tell
Comic celebration of 700 years of the Swiss Confederation, 1291-1991, with designs by Roland Gazzott...
Swiss Souvenir
55 different scenic photographic views of Switzerland.
Standard Swiss-German pattern (single-ended)
20th century version of a single-ended Swiss-German pattern pack for the game of Jass.
Genevan Dauphiné pattern
Unusual example of a double-ended Genevan Dauphiné pattern pack from c1910.
Mini Jass
Pocket-size cards with modern designs for playing the Swiss national card game, Jass.
La Compagnie de 1602
Characters from the annual festival held to commemorate the failed attempt to storm Geneva in 1602. ...
Ilford playing cards
Colourful advertising pack for Ilford designed by Mario Grasso, based on standard English courts.
Tarock Schafkopf zum Wahlkampf 1990
Playing cards issued to mark the German federal elections held on 2 December 1990.
Sternenmädchens Wahrsagespiel Tarot
A colourful 1970s take on the major arcana designed by Peter Geitner, with titles in German.
Oriental Scenes tarock
Trumps have oriental scenes on one end of the card, and mermaids, mermen, assorted sea serpents and ...
Animal Tarot by Johann M Backofen
French-suited ‘Bavarian Animal Tarot’ by Johann Matheus Backofen, Nürnberg, late 18th C.
Wüst Costumes Suisses No.93
Two version of a Swiss souvenir pack by C.L.Wúst
Roche
Advertising pack for the Swiss-based healthcare company.
Van Cleef & Arpels
Promotional pack created for Van Cleef & Arpels’ boutique in Geneva, Switzerland.
Suchard chocolate miniature playing cards
A miniature pack of playing cards advertising Suchard chocolate and cocoa made in the early 1900's. ...
Müller: Richelieu
This deck is named after Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu, Cardinal-Duc de Richelieu (1585-1642),...
William Tell
Facsimile of Swiss William Tell deck from c.1870 published by Lo Scarabeo.
Werbung die Sticht
“Werbung die Sticht” deck with artwork by Fritz Bünzli to promote advertising on playing cards by AG...
Investors Overseas Services
Investors Overseas Services, Ltd. (IOS) by A. G. Müller (Schaffhausen), c.1969.
Johannes Müller c.1840
Facsimile edition of Swiss suited deck first published by Johannes Müller in c.1840.