Four Empires - Clemente Roxas
‘Four Empires’ playing cards produced by Clemente Roxas, c.1805.
Clemente Roxas produced this fine, luxury pack of playing cards on the theme of ‘four empires’ or ‘four quarters of the world’ reflecting aspects of Spanish history in around 1805. The courts in the four suits depict full-length costume figures of American Indians, the Arabs, the Roman empire and the Spanish colonists of America. It was produced with or without index numbers. The letters "Dn. C.R." can be seen on the base of the pedestal on the king of cups. The ace of coins bears the arms of Castile and León surmounted by crown. Beneath this a lion grasps a sword and a globe. Columns and drapery serve as decorative support to the arms, whilst a tower and a ship can be recognised in the distance. On the four of coins four naked children sit around a table playing cards.
On the ace of cups two satyrs hold the large cup symbol steady while two naked putti cavort on the four of cups. The ace of clubs shows two turbaned figures raising the suit symbol, whilst the four of clubs has a vignette depicting a party of naked children dancing in a circle; the four of swords shows Mars being aroused by a genius holding a blazing torch as the god reaches for his helmet.
References
Willshire, W. H.: A Descriptive Catalogue of Playing and Other Cards in the British Museum, Trustees of the British Museum, 1876, reprint 1975 (Spanish 263).
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Leave a Reply
Your Name
Just nowRelated Articles
Archaic Spanish proof sheets
2 x uncoloured proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited playing cards produced for “New Spain”, possib...
Hispania Romana
Educational card game depicting the Roman period in Spanish history.
QAIPES – cartas españolas
Spanish-suited cards made in China inscribed “QAIPES” and “BAIPES”!
Baraja de la Cocina Española
A celebration of Spanish gastronomy, with designs by Silja Götz employing non-standard suits.
Deportivo Alavés 1921-2021
Drawings by Guillem Bosch of famous Alavés footballers in celebration of the club’s centenary.
Naipes Kukuxumusu
A 52-card Spanish-suited advertising pack for a clothing company in Pamplona.
Euskal Herriko Mitologia
Important figures from Basque mythology, named in four languages.
Líneas rojas 2016
Semicaricatural images of Spanish politicians by Jordi Minguell, combined with non-standard suits. ...
Jeu des 7 familles basques
A Happy Families-type game from the Basque country, with designs by Soledad Bravi and Agathe de Las...
The Art of Erté
Luxury playing cards displaying artwork by Erté, published in 1983 by Sobranie of London.
Sevilla 1647 reproduction
Facsimile of Spanish-suited pack produced in Sevilla, Spain, 1647.
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Poker Lusso
Richly costumed courts on a luxury poker pack from Masenghini.
Manara: baraja de poker
Exotic illustrations by Italian comic book artist and writer Milo Manara.
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland collector’s edition with illustrations of characters from the film, published by...
Women by Royo
‘Women by Royo’ erotic playing cards published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 2001.
Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.