No.14 Rouennais
As far as is known, ‘Rouennais’ has only ever been produced as a sheet of etched court cards and aces. The designs are based on the early playing cards produced in Rouen (France) which became the antecedents of the standard English pattern.
Karl Gerich No.14: ‘Rouennais’
As far as is known, ‘Rouennais’ has only ever been produced as a sheet of etched court cards and aces. Only three proof sheets have been taken (possibly), one of which was coloured and intended for submission to the Royal Academy open exhibition. However, the entry date was missed and the sheet was sold. The designs are supposed to be based on the early playing cards produced in Rouen (France) which became the antecedents of the standard English pattern. The pictorial Aces, of course, are Karl's own design. Here and there we can recognise motifs and ideas which are developed more fully in some of Karl's other packs.
Above: uncoloured proof sheet of Karl Gerich's ‘Rouennais’ playing cards No.14, which was never completed. Images courtesy Barney Townshend.
References:
♣ Tregear, Mike and Daphne, "Karl Gerich: Card Designer and Maker", privately published.
Copyright:
Copyright for all images remains the property of the Artist.
By Barney Townshend
United Kingdom • Member since October 06, 2015
Retired Airline Pilot, interested in: Transformation Playing Cards, Karl Gerich and Elaine Lewis. Secretary of the EPCS. Treasurer of the IPCS.
Activity for No.14 Rouennais
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Great Mogul Playing Cards
The origins of the 'Great Mogul' brand playing cards.
Karl Gerich no.23: “Beautiful Bath”
Beautiful Bath is a hand-made pack by Karl Gerich which was published in 1996.
Karl Gerich No.20: Rouennais A
The Aces are decorated with the pip in a central circle and two different figures at each end of the...
Cartes Turques
"Cartes Turques" was published in 1985. Intricate designs with a hint of orientalism, double borders...
EPCS Transformation
The English Playing Card Society's 10th Anniversary Transformation Playing Cards designed and produc...
Karl Gerich No.1
The first entry in the catalogue, dating from c.1982, shows full-length figures with their symbols o...
Ganesh
Karl's ‘Ganesh’ pack has the four Aces with the suit sign in a circle decorated with flowers and dou...
Trappola Française v.1
Inspired by Piatnik's ‘Trappola’ of c.1890, with double-ended courts, a Jester and decorated Aces, t...
Patience No.21
‘Patience No.21’ is a 52-card miniature deck with double-ended courts and a Joker holding a fan of c...
Karl Gerich No.26
Variations on the standard English pattern are one of Karl's favourite themes. He produced several v...
Karl Gerich No.28
Double-ended courts based on standard English pattern but with variant colours; double-ended Joker p...
Karl Gerich No.12
Karl Gerich's 12th deck is titled “Rheinland Playing Cards” and was published in 1991. lt is derived...
Karl Gerich No.3
Four Elements is Karl's third attempt at manufacturing playing cards.
Karl Gerich No.19
An unpublished design by Karl Gerich showing 12 court cards, a Joker and two additional cards produc...
Cosi Fan Tutte
Cosi Fan Tutte was published in 1994 and is based on Mozart's opera. The pips (heart-shaped locket, ...
No.6 Austrian
This early Gerich work is an adaptation of the English pattern with continental stylisation. The dou...
No.10 - Four Corners
Karl Gerich was a great admirer of playing cards produced by B. Dondorf and his tenth pack was inspi...
Karl Gerich
Karl Gerich's interest in playing-card production came to the fore while studying at Bath Academy of...
About Karl Gerich (1956-2016)
About Karl Alexander Gerich, 23rd April 1956 — 4th January 2016
About Georgina Harvey
Georgina Harvey worked together with Karl Gerich.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
