Playing Cards from South East Asia
Playing cards, introduced by the Chinese and quickly adopted in Southeast Asia, became pivotal in regional gambling practices, transforming into a primary entertainment form by the 15th century. Over the past 100 years, various producers, artists, and manufacturers from Southeast Asia have continued this tradition, creating card packs that reflect a diverse mix of design and cultural influences.
Brunei • Cambodia • East Timor • Indonesia • Laos • Malaysia • Myanmar (Burma) • Philippines • Singapore • Thailand • Vietnam
REFERENCES:
- Reid, Anhtony: Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce 1450-1680, Yale University Press, 1988
Spirit Playing Cards
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by Adam Wintle
Standard court cards show the king, queen and jack looking sideways and diagonal; these elegant Spirit playing cards show the court characters front-facing.
Tam Cúc 三菊
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by Anthony Lee
Tam Cúc playing cards from Vietnam (Việt Nam), based on Chinese chess, 2016
Thai & Siamese Playing Cards
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by Adam Wintle
The Portuguese were the first Westerners to trade with Ayutthaya in Thailand in the 16th century. Traders also arrived from India, Japan, the Arab world, England, Holland and France.
Thai Playing Cards Manufacturing Factory
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by Adam Wintle
Thai Playing Cards Manufacturing Factory was established in 1938 as part of the government Excise Department.
The Simpsons Playing Cards
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by Adam Wintle
These Simpsons playing cards were created for a t-shirt competition. Each card representing a member of the Simpsons family.
Utopia Playing Cards
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by Adam Wintle
This pack has been inspired by the concept of Utopia, a seemingly perfect and ideal place.
