Silk Inlaid playing cards for Charles I.
Silk Inlaid playing cards said to have been made for Charles I
Said to have been made in 1628 for England's Charles I, this pack is illustrated in the book: "Age of Kings", by Charles Blitzer, TIME-LIFE International, 1968 [See pages 19-29.]
In the picture credits (p.186), they are described as: "Playing cards made for King Charles I, by the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, inlaid silk, ca. 1628, courtesy Katharina Gregory, New York (Robert S. Crandall)."
Above: a total of 28 cards are illustrated in the book from what looks like a 52 card pack. The numerals 2-5 have serpents climbing up the tree stems, and all the pip cards are decorated with common flowers of the meadows and fields. Attempts are made in the book to relate the court cards to known personalities.
Metropolitan Museum of Art facsimile, 1970
Facsimile edition of hand-made silk inlaid cards, probably made in Germany just before 1700, published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1970. Images courtesy Lev Golinkin.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • 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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