Knoll International
Geometric designs by the French artist Jean Garçon for Knoll International, the furniture company.
Jean Garçon (1928-2010) was a notable French designer, remembered for his furniture and jewellery designs as well as for several packs of playing cards. In this pack for Knoll International, the furniture company, the court cards and suit-signs have been reduced to basic geometric shapes. Separate colours have then been used to identify each of the court cards: purple for the Ks, orange for the Qs, and green for the Js. The multicoloured Jokers carry the name of the artist. Note that the title cards in the two packs are different: in one the upper text is in dark grey and the lower part in purple, while in the other the colours are reversed. See the box►
Above: Knoll International promotional playing cards designed by Jean Garçon. Made by Grimaud/France Cartes, France, 1968. 2 x 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card in double box. Size: 57 x 87.5 mm.
Note: Jean Garçon also designed packs for Lanvin, Cardin, IBM, and the International Herald Tribune. The Wikipedia entry for Jean Garçon mentions and illustrates some playing cards.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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