Crystal Time
Colourful and attractive designs by Violeta Monreal, inspired by stained glass through the ages.
Taking as her inspiration the stained glass windows found in the finest cathedrals in Europe, the talented artist Violeta Monreal has created her own designs reflecting the styles of different periods. The black suits reflect the earliest stages in stained glass design, whereas the red suits reflect the use of stained glass windows from the 17th century to the present day. Each of the court cards, Aces and Jokers has a different design, while the suit-signs on the pip cards are set against tinted panels of ‘glass’. The style of lettering chosen for the indices is very individual, as is the direction of some of the suit-signs on the pip cards. The cards have gilt corners. See the box►
More information in fold-out leaflet in Spanish, French, English and German►
Above: ‘Crystal Time’ playing cards designed by Violeta Monreal. Printed by Heraclio Fournier, S.A., Vitoria, Spain, 1994. 2 x 52 cards + 3 different Jokers, + a fold-out leaflet in Spanish, French, English and German, in a double plastic tray with a cardboard sleeve. Size: 57 x 88 mm.
Violeta Monreal designed several packs printed by Fournier, including Allegories & Myths, Medieval Life, and Secrets of the Orient (also known as Secrets of Far East) • www.violetamonreal.com►
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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