Four Colour Cards / 四色牌 / Si Sek Pai

Four Colour Cards (四色牌 / Si Sek Pai) made in Turnhout (Belgium) for export to Far Eastern markets including Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Four Colour Cards was a popular card game enjoyed by the older generations due to its simple method of play and portability. It’s popularity is shared by the Teochews, Hokkiens, Hainanese and the Peranakans etc. It is believed that if one engages in a game of Four Colour Cards frequently it may help to stimulate the brain and reduce the rate at which our brain degenerates.

Above: Four Colour Cards (Si Sek Pai) made in Turnhout (Belgium) for export to Far Eastern markets, c.1900. 56 cards, reverse is plain (uncoloured).

These Turnhout cards have small chinese characters in between the larger chinese characters. I can identify three characters, viz; 双 ( A pair), 合( harmony) and 春(Spring). It is possible that this was the name of the maker that Turnhout copied the cards from. Notes courtesy Anthony Lee.