Tarot of Musterberg
Designed by Cesare Asaro to simulate decks from the 1700s or earlier, the Tarot of Musterberg is based on the traditional Tarot de Marseille but with an imaginary historical background.
Created by Curio & Co., purveyors of products based on fictional history
Rather than based on ancient mysteries, elite occultism or New Age spirituality, Cesare Asaro created the Tarot of Musterberg in an alternate, imaginary setting simulating decks from the 1700s or earlier and evoking the power of nostalgia. These are the tarot cards which our grandmother might have used, recalling an imaginary past, discovered hidden in the attic. Inspired by the traditional Tarot de Marseille, together with wear and tear on the back of each card, this entertaining 79 card deck has extra nuances in the iconography including a 23rd trump card: the Siren. The deck is printed on acid free paper (to give the closest feeling of holding original cards from the period) in a small production run and comes complete with an instruction booklet and light-hearted cartomancy guide.
Above: the ‘Tarot of Musterberg’ for card games and cartomancy, 79 cards in box, designed and created by Cesare Asaro of Curio & Co.→
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.
Activity for Tarot of Musterberg
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Tarocco Gumppenberg
Neoclassical Empire-style Tarocchi cards by Ferdinando Gumppenberg, Milan, c.1810.
The Sola-Busca Tarot
Humanist Iconography, Alchemical Metaphor, and the Origins of the Illustrated Minor Arcana.
Trappola pack by Joseph Fetscher
Trappola pack published by Joseph Fetscher, Graz, 1739.
Natural History Tarocchi
Natural History Tarocchi by Ferdinando Gumppenberg, Milan.
Dungeons and Dragons Tarot
This 78-card officially licensed Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) tarot deck offers a visually appealing var...
Vicente Gombau y Labad
Elegant fantasy designs by Vicente Gombau y Labad (Madrid), 1861.
Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille
Jean Noblet: the oldest known ‘Tarot de Marseille’ deck, Paris, c.1650.
Iohann Christoph Hes Tarot c.1750
Facsimile of Tarot de Marseille by Iohann Christoph Hes, Augsburg, c.1750.
Tarocchi di Mantegna, c.1465
The so-called Tarocchi di Mantegna (c.1465) reflect an ideological structure bringing to mind the so...
Perspectives on the History of Tarot
From a Renaissance Card Game to a Medium of Spiritual Meaning and Identity.
Sola-Busca Tarocchi
The Sola-Busca Tarocchi, c.1491
Vergnano Tarot 1826-1851
Stefano Vergnano’s Tarot and playing card factory holds a special place in the history of the Tarot....
Oliver Mundy tarot
Original Tarot designs in Italian Renaissance style by Oliver Mundy.
Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne
Ferdinand Piatnik was born in Ofen on October 14, 1819.
Taroquis ‘Obelisco’
78-card 'Taroquis Marca Obelisco' published by Mario Colombo, Buenos Aires, during the 1950s, 60s & ...
Tarocco Piedmontese, Buenos Aires c.1900
Tarocco Piedmontese by Fabrica de Naipes La Primitiva, Moreno 248, Buenos Aires c.1900
Tarocco Piedmontese by Fabrica de Naipes La Primitiva, Bs Aires
Tarocco Piedmontese by Fabrica de Naipes La Primitiva, Defensa 125, Buenos Aires c.1890.
The Visconti-Sforza Tarot, c.1460
This pack of tarot cards appears to have have been made in the Bembo workshop in Cremona for Bianca ...
Animal Tarok by Jean Friedrich Mayer (1752-1783)
Animal Tarok by Jean Friedrich Mayer (1752-1783).
Tarots Egipcios Kier
The “Tarots Egipcios” was first published by Editorial Kier S.A. in c.1971 with Spanish titles, with...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
