Pirate Playing Cards
A recurring motif is the symbolism of life and death, playfully rendered in these marvellous cards, including plenty of sabres and skeletons!
Designed and created by Vitaly Fishilevich, Israel, 2011
The idea for these playing cards came from Vitaly’s childhood love of pirate stories and hidden treasures. When he was young he imagined the cards that the pirates themselves used to play with while drinking rum at sea. This is the theme which Vitaly has developed into this custom deck of playing cards. A recurring motif is the symbolism of life and death, playfully rendered in these marvellous cards, including plenty of sabres and skeletons! The artwork is in black and white so that the deck can be used as a tattoo sampler. The images are very fashionable in the context of being flash designs; the style is like that found in Calavera art (sugar skulls) and contains references to Voodoo and Spanish conquistadors amongst others. The box has been imaginatively decorated with skulls, bones, ships and a treasure map on the back. Decks can be purchased direct from Vitaly’s website: www.kipodtattoo.com►
Above: 'Pirate Playing Cards': 52 cards + 2 Jokers in pirate-themed box, manufactured in Israel, concept and design by Vitaly Fishilevich.
By Simon Wintle
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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