Rococo Playing Cards

Rococo period style is one of the most popular with playing card designers and manufacturers over the years, with lavish embroidered costumes and white, powdered wigs and tricorne hats. These particular designs have been published by Piatnik with decorative aces in several formats since around 1914, including “Rococo Patience”, “Luxus-Patience”, “Empire Patience”, “White Horse Patience” then as “Patience-Whist No.140”, and “Mini Patience”.

Above: Piatnik’s "Lady" slim sized playing cards with attractive historical courts imported into UK by Benno Products, 1950s. 52 cards + 2 jokers in box. These were normal-length cards but narrow (or slim), intended for use by ladies who tend to have smaller hands than men.

“White Horse Patience No.2018”

The cards were also repackaged as: “White Horse Patience No.2018” during the late 1970s.

Above: Piatnik's "White Horse Patience" No 2018 using the same face designs but with different style of indices and Lipizzaner horses on the reverse. Each deck has 52 cards + 3 jokers + extra card. Unusually, the date code is printed on the ace of diamonds rather than the ace of hearts. Images courtesy Matt Probert.

“Empire Patience”

Above: Piatnik’s patience sized playing cards, 1970s. 2 x [52 cards + 3 jokers] in box. The box doesn't give any brand name, just "Piatnik Wien" but is was imported by a Belgian stationer called Baeyens, Galerie 48, Antwerp whose sticker is inside the lid. Courtesy Lotte Wintle and Francis Bevers.