Standard Playing Card Patterns
Standard patterns are when a certain design becomes established in a certain region and all local manufacturers produce a version of it. It then becomes traditional in that region or in other regions where it is adopted.
Some modern patterns are descendants of patterns used three of four hundred years ago. For example, the widely-used standard Anglo-American pattern seen today derives from sixteenth century French designs.
North German Pattern
The North German pattern appeared in the mid-19th century, derived from the French ‘Paris’ pattern,
Old Bavarian pattern
-
by Simon Wintle
Uncut sheets of playing cards of the Old Bavarian pattern by Michael Schatzberger, Passau, c.1780.
Paris Pattern
-
by Simon Wintle
The Paris pattern was established as such around the middle of the seventeenth century (based, perhaps, on the cards of Hector of Troyes).
Piedmont Pattern
-
by Simon Wintle
The Piedmont pattern is a very close relative to the French 'Paris' pattern. The courts are not named, however, and are divided horizontally (rather than diagonally).
Portuguese pattern
-
by Simon Wintle
19th century Portuguese pattern, re-printed from original woodblocks.
Portuguese Type Cards made in Belgium
-
by Simon Wintle
Portuguese Type Playing Cards made in Belgium, c.1878.
Provence Pattern
-
by Simon Wintle
The 'Provence' pattern contains figures which go back to the fifteenth century.
Prussian Pattern
-
by Simon Wintle
Derived from Jagdkarten or Hunting cards with patriotic overtones and rural scenes as vignettes on the numeral cards, the Prussian pattern emerged in the middle of the nineteenth century.
Sicilian Pattern
The Sicilian pack has a similar composition to the Neapolitan pack, and is small and squat in appearance.
Spanish Cadiz-style pack
-
by Simon Wintle
Traditional Spanish Cadiz-style pack manufactured by Müller & Cie, Schaffhausen, 1952.
Standard and Non-standard Playing Cards
-
by Simon Wintle
Standard playing cards are based upon traditional designs and are used for card games.
Standard Swedish Pattern
Standard Swedish type playing cards manufactured by J.O. Öberg & Son, Eskilstuna, 1929.