Dreveton - Provence pattern
French cardmakers Jean and François Dreveton lived in Aix-en-Provence.
French master cardmakers Jean Dreveton (active 1668-1683) and François Dreveton (active 1696-1737), were both registered at Aix-en-Provence
Jean Dreveton
Jean Dreveton, a master cardmaker at Aix-en-Provence, was married to Marguerite Geoffroy. He was the brother-in-law of Jean Payen, a merchant-cartier established in Marseille before 1686.
Above: three cards by Dreveton l'aîné, whose name appears on the jack of hearts, 1695-1738. The jack of hearts has his right arm resting on his hip and holds his halberd with the other hand. The queen of clubs holds a sunflower. Stencil-coloured woodcuts. Source gallica.bnf.fr
Above: Provence pattern by Dreveton c.1696. Image source: d'Allemagne, Henry-René : Les cartes à jouer du XIVe au XXe siècle, Hachette et Cie, Paris, 1906, vol.1, p.123. The jacks of clubs and spades have scrolls showing the master cardmaker's name. The Provence pattern was used in south-western France: Aix, Marseille, Toulon, Avignon, Nimes and Montpellier. See also: Bibliothèque nationale de France: impression photomécanique de cartes de tête au portrait de Provence éditées par Dreveton l'aîné à Aix-en-Provence►
François Dreveton (active 1696-1737)
Above: sheets of Provence pattern outlines, which were prepared for use as stencils, printed by François Dreveton (Aix-en-Provence), 1696-1737. The jack of clubs (2nd row) has an official tax stamp stating ‘Cartes de Provence’ and the date 1708. Most of the designs contain the elaborate signature of the tax authority. The King of Clubs wields a battle axe and has been found as the King of Coins in early Spanish or Italian-suited packs and has become the King of Hearts in English packs (also known as the 'Suicide King'). The Queen of Hearts is a fur-covered 'Wild Woman' (bottom right).
References
Bibliothèque nationale de France: Cartes de divers jeux de fabrication française►
Bibliothèque nationale de France: Fragments de feuilles ayant servi d'imprimures►
Bibliothèque nationale de France: Fragment d'une feuille de moulage d'un jeu de cartes au portrait de Provence découpée pour servir d'imprimure►
d'Allemagne, Henry-René : Les cartes à jouer du XIVe au XXe siècle, Hachette et Cie, Paris, 1906, vol.1, p.119 ff.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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