Dieudonné & Cie Aluette
Aluette playing cards manufactured by Dieudonné & Cie, Angers (France), early 20th century.
Aluette playing cards
manufactured by Dieudonné & Cie, Angers (France), early 20th century.
Aluette is a card game popular in Brittany and the West coast of France, usually played with a special pack the design of which is descended from Archaic Franco-Spanish models which were also used in France. The cards have Spanish suit symbols, the courts have become somewhat stylised and many of the numeral cards contain additional decorative motifs or embellishments which were incorporated by earlier manufacturers or are related to the game-play. Traditional (or archaic) features include a kissing couple on the Five of Coins (once the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella) and a naked child on the Ace of Swords. The Cavalier of Coins is shown in partial back-view. See also → Lequart Aluette Dieudonne Catalanes France-Cartes Aluette 1976
Some History
In around 1754 Jean Dieudonné
relocated from Metz in France to Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg, near the border with Germany. In that same year, being a widower, he re-married Marie Elisabeth Lejeune, a merchant’s daughter. After launching his new business and building it up, he successfully become head of a dynasty of cardmakers. After Jean Dieudonné's death the business was managed by his widow, Marie Elisabeth Lejeune.The history of the firm is closely linked to the political changes that have marked its existence. Thus, following the French Revolution and the annexation of Luxembourg in 1795, it was forbidden to represent crowned heads on playing cards, and when in 1797 the French government introduced the tax on card games, it took all the commercial intelligence of the Dieudonnés to ensure the survival of the company. Several sons and grandsons became cardmakers thereby continuing the family name (Georges
, Jean II , Mathias I , Mathias II and Antoine Dieudonné ).Cremers (1994, p.63) suggests that Jean Dieudonné may have learned his trade at Metz but been forced into exile by the strict tax regulations in France. His move to Gravenmacher may have been in order to avail himself of paper supplies, materials and clients in the Rhine valley area, accessible via the Moselle river. The products of the Dieudonné factory were mainly intended for the foreign market, the tax advantages in Luxembourg creating a context favourable for this flourishing craft. Seeking government tax concessions, Dieudonné claimed to be the sole supplier of playing cards to the inhabitants of Luxembourg. The successors of Jean Dieudonné continued the manufacture in Grevenmacher until 1880, when Jean-Paul Dieudonné decided to abandon the production of cards in the township. Other branches of family descendents emigrated to France, Orleans and Angers, taking the business with them where it became known as Dieudonné et Cie.
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
Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité
Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.
Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.
Swiss playing cards by Iehan Hemau
17th century Swiss-suited playing cards by Iehan Hemau of Épinal.
SCOR playing cards
Bizarre and fantastical images by the artist Roland Topor for the SCOR reinsurance company.
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).
Les Jeux de Pastor
Striking designs by Edouard Pastor focusing on the heads of figures from the medieval period.
Le Jeu des Personnages de l’Antiquité et du Moyen-Age
Edouard Pastor’s designs in black and gold inspired by Antiquity and the Middle Ages.
Rouen Pattern - Portrait Rouennais
An attractive XV century French-suited design from Rouen became the standard English & Anglo-America...
Archaic Spanish proof sheets
2 x uncoloured proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited playing cards produced for “New Spain”, possib...
English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud
Standard English pattern published by B.P. Grimaud with engraving by F. Simon, c.1880.
Jeu de Tarot (Catel & Farcy)
Colourful version of a standard French (‘Bourgeois’) Tarot.
Smith-Corona Marchant
Simplified yet colourful court card designs by Avoine for Smith-Corona Marchant.
Redrawn French pattern (Héron)
Redrawn French pattern retaining traditional elements.
7 Familles Le Manège Enchanté
The Magic Roundabout characters on a jeu de 7 familles designed by James Hodges.
Paris 2024 Olympics 3
Paris Games mascot Phryge engaged in different sports in a Happy Families-type game.
Paris 2024 Olympics 2
A standard French Tarot game pack with passing references to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
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.