Gath & Chaves
Gath & Chaves, Ltd, Buenos Aires, 1883-1974.
Gath & Chaves, Ltd ~ (Importers) ~ Buenos Aires
The South American Stores (Gath and Chaves) Ltd.
Gath & Chaves Ltd opened in Buenos Aires in 1883 specialising in gentleman's clothing imported from Europe, in the style of Macy's or Harrod's. The entrepreneurs Alfredo Gath (1852-1936) and Lorenzo Chaves (1854-1932) had interests in different parts in the world. Over the years the firm prospered and over 30 regional branches were opened with a legion of employees, which grew into one of the leading department stores in Argentina. A wide range of goods were sold, from hats and lingerie to gramophone records and playing-cards. Playing cards were imported from leading European manufacturers including De la Rue and Grimaud. A branch was also opened in Santiago (Chile) in 1910. The store finally closed its doors in 1974.
During this period other large department stores operated in Buenos Aires and many of these stocked imported playing cards. See also: Fló Hermanos • Bertrand Domec • Casa Jacobo Peuser • Casa Escasany • Harrods • Julio Laje
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.
Leave a Reply
Your Name
Just nowRelated Articles
Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards
Innovative advertising pack for Simpsons of Piccadilly designed by André François.
English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud
Standard English pattern published by B.P. Grimaud with engraving by F. Simon, c.1880.
Smith-Corona Marchant
Simplified yet colourful court card designs by Avoine for Smith-Corona Marchant.
7 Familles Le Manège Enchanté
The Magic Roundabout characters on a jeu de 7 familles designed by James Hodges.
Moguls, Highlanders and Merry Andrews
Discover the historic origins and evolution of card naming and quality designations like ‘Moguls’ an...
Hand-drawn transformation cards, c1875
A complete set of hand-drawn transformation cards from c1875, using a standard De La Rue pack.
Why our playing-cards look the way they do
Analysis of early playing card designs: origins, suit differences, standardization, technological ad...
Word Making and Word Taking
How crossword and spelling games became popular.
Zodiaque
“Les Signes du Zodiaque” playing cards designed by Youdi des Aubrys.
Correspondances
‘Correspondances’ depicting the 52 transfer stations of the Paris Métropolitain, France, 1985.
The Search for New Games in the late 19th century
A few new games survived and are still around today; most came and went and are only witnessed in th...
Jeu des Médecins
Cartoons of doctors and nurses by Pino Zac, published by B.P. Grimaud in 1983.
Knoll International
Geometric designs by the French artist Jean Garçon for Knoll International, the furniture company.
SEMP playing cards
Modified Anglo-American courts advertising a French medical publishing company.
Compagnie Maritime des Chargeurs Réunis
French navigators and explorers on a promotional pack for the C.M.C.R shipping company.
Jeanne d’Arc, “La pucelle d’Orléans”
Joan of Arc and her contemporaries in a colourful pack designed by Patrice Louis.
Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.