Pirate Playing Cards
A recurring motif is the symbolism of life and death, playfully rendered in these marvellous cards, including plenty of sabres and skeletons!
Designed and created by Vitaly Fishilevich, Israel, 2011
The idea for these playing cards came from Vitaly’s childhood love of pirate stories and hidden treasures. When he was young he imagined the cards that the pirates themselves used to play with while drinking rum at sea. This is the theme which Vitaly has developed into this custom deck of playing cards. A recurring motif is the symbolism of life and death, playfully rendered in these marvellous cards, including plenty of sabres and skeletons! The artwork is in black and white so that the deck can be used as a tattoo sampler. The images are very fashionable in the context of being flash designs; the style is like that found in Calavera art (sugar skulls) and contains references to Voodoo and Spanish conquistadors amongst others. The box has been imaginatively decorated with skulls, bones, ships and a treasure map on the back. Decks can be purchased direct from Vitaly’s website: www.kipodtattoo.com►
Above: 'Pirate Playing Cards': 52 cards + 2 Jokers in pirate-themed box, manufactured in Israel, concept and design by Vitaly Fishilevich.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996 • Contact
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.
Related Articles
Alice in Wonderland by Sasha Dounaevski
Alice in Wonderland playing cards designed by Sasha Dounaevski, 2018.
Waddington’s 1940 Trade Brochure
Waddington’s 1940 Trade Brochure.
Naipe Estilo Español “Siglo XXI”
Naipe Estilo Español “Siglo XXI” created by Florencia Marotta, 2005.
Transformation of Playing Cards
The best-known fantasies with playing cards are the ‘Transformation’ cards. Hand-drawing ‘transforma...
F. Molina Campos
Unofficial Edition of Molina Campos playing cards, anonymous publisher, 2004.
Production Methods for Small Scale Editions
Some alternative approaches to producing small, hand-made editions of playing cards
Playing Card Design
The playing card calls for artistic treatment and although the constrained size imposes some limitat...
Balázs Pál Nagy's Tell No. 3306 Playing Cards
Balázs Pál Nagy Tell 3306
Balázs Pál Nagy's Playing Cards
Balázs Pál Nagy's Playing Cards
About Peter Wood
Peter Wood is a UK based artist.
About Emily Arkin
Emily Arkin is an artist from Somerville, MA.
About Shelley Fowles
Shelley Fowles was born in South Africa but has lived in the United Kingdom since 1979. She trained ...
Ian Roth’s Unique playing cards
Ian Roth’s Unique playing cards
Pippoglyph
Pippoglyph Playing Cards by Ben Crenshaw © 2004
Prof. Franciszek Bunsch
Prof. Franciszek Bunsch, Polish playing-card designer.
Karlis Padegs
Karlis Padegs (1911-1940) was a Latvian artist who designed 17 playing cards in 1936 - joker, aces, ...
Romanian playing cards by Alf Cooke
Romanian playing cards, manufactured and exported by the Universal Playing Card Co., Leeds, in the 1...
Regarding the designs of playing cards
The quality of playing card designs often deteriorates with time…
South American Gaucho Playing Cards
Gaucho Playing Cards from South America
Queen of Hearts
“Queen of Hearts” by Josie Callipari, winner of the Brian Tucker Accounting Desert Fantasia Award 20...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
