Articles about: “french”

61: French regional patterns: the kings

On page 11 I illustrated several examples of the regional French patterns from Sylvia Mann's collection; this is a more in-depth look at the figures of these patterns ("portraits" in French).

62: French regional patterns: the queens and jacks

Continuing our look at the figures from the regional patterns of France.

63: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 1

A great many regional patterns were exported from France and subsequently copied elsewhere. Some of them became local standards in their own right.

Aluette

Aluette playing cards manufactured by Dieudonné & Cie, Angers (France), early 20th century

Cartes Catalanes

Cartes Catalanes are used in a small area in the Eastern Pyrenées region of Southern France.

Cartes Comiques du Colonel Atthalin

“Jeu de cartes comiques” transformation cards designed by Louis Atthalin (1784-1856) and published in 1817

Classique

“Classique” by Draeger Frères, Paris, c.1949 with designs reminiscent of early French cards.

Early Anglo-French Cards

Cards produced in Rouen during the sixteenth century. It was cards like these which were imported to England and are the ancestors of the modern 'Anglo-American' pattern.

F. d’Alphonse Arnoult

Finely engraved deck by F. d’Alphonse Arnoult (Paris), c.1860. 52 cards.

French Playing Cards

Some of the oldest cards still in existence come from France. Much of the early history of cards in France is to do with standard designs and their spread, coupled with a keen sense of economic advantage.

Gayant, 1793

French Revolution playing cards published by Gayant in Paris, 1793

Jeu de Bataille

“Jeu de Bataille” card game published by Éditions Willeb, Paris. The court cards represent characters from different nationalities or ethnic groups who are presumably engaged in battle

Lequart Aluette

Spanish-suited Aluette pack with 'FABRICANDO IN MADRID' printed on the Two of Swords and the legend Lequart - Paris printed in the top left corners of the court cards.

Paris pattern

The Paris pattern was established as such around the middle of the seventeenth century (based, perhaps, on the cards of Hector of Troyes).

Pierre Marechal

After the development of printing at the end of the 15th century, Rouen became an important centre for card-making whose influence extended far afield. Cards from Rouen are significant because they became the model from which our English pack subsequently evolved.

Richard Bouvier

The assorted antique playing cards shown below are examples of the French 'Paris' pattern from the seventeenth century. The Jack of Clubs has the name Richard Bouvier.