Bernhard Altmann: Cashmere Playing Cards

Manufactured by: Ferd. Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, 1950s

Bernhard Altmann is from the “The House of Cashmere” and these playing cards honour their best known commodity: the fleece of the graceful horned Cashmere goat. Hans Lang created the symbolic artwork for the deck, dedicating each suit to the group of people that had the greatest significance for Cashmere through the ages: Clubs-Chinese; Hearts-Indians; Spades-Persians; Diamonds-Mongolians. The King of Clubs is Ch'ien Lung, the wisest of modern Chinese emperors. The King of Hearts is Aurung-Zeb, Indian warrior, ruler of the Mogul Empire. The King of Spades is the Persian Nadir Shah, who conquered the Empire of the Moguls. The King of Diamonds is the Mongol, Kublai Khan, grandson of Jenghis Khan, host of Marco Polo and the first known patron of the Cashmere trade...

Above: the 12 court cards from Bernhard Altmann's "Cashmere Playing Cards" printed by Ferd. Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, c.1950s. The court cards are warriors, rulers and women who were particularly interested in the Cashmere trade. Ace to 10 (not shown) are vignettes that portray attributes of each group of people.

Right: The Artwork on the back of the cards in Ancient Mongol script is the Seal of Khans: "when the command of the allpowerful Khan of the Great Mongol People, which is as the might of Eternal Heaven, is handed down to subject peoples, they must tremble and obey." One back is in red and one in black. The Jokers have Chinese Theatrical Masks. The back of the box is marked 'Made in Austria by Ferd. Piatnik & Sons Vienna'. Images courtesy Barney Townshend.