The World of Playing Cards Logo

Baroque No.2118

Published August 06, 2016 Updated February 28, 2023

“Baroque” by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, reflecting a bygone era of fashion.

1928 Austria Piatnik Art & Design Baroque Rococo

Colourful “Baroque” costume deck by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, c.1928, reflecting a bygone era of fashion.

“Baroque” by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, c.1928 “Baroque” by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, c.1928

Above: “Baroque” printed in chromolithography by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, c.1928. Images courtesy Rod Starling.

The deck appears to have enjoyed great popularity. It is believed to have been first issued in 1895. There have been at least three later issues, and subsequent reprints, in poker and bridge formats, with various types of indices. Some of these carry different date or production codes as Piatnik started printing the order number, generally on the ace of hearts, but sometimes on the ace of diamonds after c.1950. Differences of detail can be seen in the designs, possibly due to new printing technology (chromolithography, offeset litho, etc) being used over the years.

“Baroque” by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, c.1950

Above: “Baroque” by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, in Bridge size, c.1950. This edition was distributed in USA by the Atlantic Playing Card Co., N.Y. (click to zoom).

Shown below is a later edition of “Baroque” No.2118 by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, 1977 in which the four Queens in particular show noteable differences.

“Baroque” No.2118 by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, 1977

Above: “Baroque” No.2118 by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, 1977. Blue or red backs, 3 jokers in each pack. Images and additional research courtesy Matt Probert.

“Baroque” No.2118 by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, 1977
avatar
94 Articles

By Rod Starling (1936-2023)

Member since January 09, 2013

Rod Starling was one of the founding members of the 52 Plus Joker card collectors club. He authored many articles for the club's quarterly newsletter, Clear the Decks. His collection encompasses both foreign and American decks. Rod also authored a book titled The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards.


Leave a Reply

Default Avatar
Your Name
Just now

Create account to comment 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.


Related Articles

2010 Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards designed by Jim Sutherland, c.2010.

2022 Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools playing cards designed by Leo Scherfig, 2022.

1973 Karl Korab

Karl Korab

Austrian artist Karl Korab’s first pack, displaying his use of different techniques.

1980 Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,

1862 Johann Nejedly Tarok Cards

Johann Nejedly Tarok Cards

Johann Nejedly, a 19th-century Viennese card maker, produced Tarock cards featuring modern scenes th...

2000 Austria Ski Team playing cards

Austria Ski Team playing cards

Photos of members of the Austrian skiing team replace the normal courts on two different packs.

Heathen Divinities

Heathen Divinities

Handmade playing cards from the British Museum depicting classical Greek and Roman gods and goddesse...

2010 Grunwald 1410 – The Battle of Tannenberg

Grunwald 1410 – The Battle of Tannenberg

Details from the famous painting of the Battle of Grunwald (1410) by the Polish painter Jan Matejko....

1973 Colonial Art

Colonial Art

A collection of 53 pieces of art showcasing detailed scenes from early American colonial life.

1854 Joseph Sürch, Engraver

Joseph Sürch, Engraver

Joseph Sürch, a prominent Viennese engraver, made significant contributions to card sheet engraving ...

2024 Piatnik’s 200<sup>th</sup> Anniversary

Piatnik’s 200th Anniversary

A special philatelic souvenir for Piatnik’s 200th anniversary, combining playing cards an...

1880 Trappola pack by Joseph Glanz

Trappola pack by Joseph Glanz

Double-ended Trappola pack by Joseph Glanz, Vienna, late 19th century.

Art pack II, Austria

Art pack II, Austria

Renaissance portraits by Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach, Hans Holbein, Barthel Beham, Christoph Amber...

Sissi playing cards

Sissi playing cards

produced for the Austrian tourist market.

Portrait Playing Cards

Portrait Playing Cards

Portrait playing cards, featuring realistic drawings of people on the court cards instead of traditi...

1975 Poker Lusso

Poker Lusso

Richly costumed courts on a luxury poker pack from Masenghini.