Naipes Tango by Arco Iris
Naipes Tango by Producciónes Gráficas Arco Iris, 1999.
Naipes Tango by Producciónes Gráficas Arco Iris, 1999
The images in this pack celebrating the Argentinian dance of Tango - with music characterized by counterpoint - conjure up the early 1900s era. The 10s are ‘Taitas’ (local Argentinean men); the 11s are “El Cachafaz” (a famous Tango dancer with his partner Carmencita Calderón) and the 12s depict Carlos Gardel (the King of Tango). The non-standard suit symbols add more visual interest to the musical theme... a street light, a ‘bandoneón’ (type of accordion or concertina), the ‘facón’ knife and gourd-shaped mate drinking cup. The four Aces are set against a pale blue flower motif in the background and all cards have decorative scrolls and undulating vines in the borders, suggesting the movement of the dance.
• See also: Naipes de Truco Editorial Perfil • Naipes 'Tango' • Argentine Gaucho playing cards→
Above: 'Naipes Tango' Argentinian style playing cards by Producciónes Gráficas Arco Iris, Av. Diaz Velez 986, Villa Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, 1999. 48 cards + 2 Jokers in special box.
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.
Related Articles
Modern Swiss-German Pattern (carta.media)
Modernizing tradition: balancing clarity and continuity in regional card design.
Tactics Design
Late modernist Japanese playing cards designed by Masayoshi Nakajo for Tactics Design.
The Decadent Deck
Studies in the eroticism of the female body by Inge Clayton.
Historic Shakespeare
“Historic Shakespeare” playing cards featuring Shakespearean characters by Chas Goodall & Son.
Sunday Night / Nichiyoubi no Yoru
An irreverent, avant-garde deck unofficially titled "Nichiyoubi no Yoru" (Sunday Night), designed by...
Emilio Tadini playing cards
Beautiful dreamlike playing card designs by Emilio Tadini.
Zürcher Festspiel 1903
Swiss-suited pack designed by Robert Hardmeyer featuring figures from art and politics.
Never Mind the Belote
Limited edition Belote pack with designs by a collective of 24 street artists.
Playing card designs by Franz Exler
Reconstruction of playing cards from the original 1903 designs.
MITSCHKAtzen
Clever cat designs by the Austrian artist and illustrator Willi Mitschka.
22 Pittori in 22 Arcani
Collaborative Tarot with contributions from 22 different Italian artists including Menegazzi and Tav...
Whist by Ditha Moser
Ditha Moser created this minimalist Whist deck in 1905, in the style of the Vienna Secession art mov...
Keith Haring playing cards
Energetic graffiti images by the American artist Keith Haring.
Jockey Club de Buenos Aires
Spanish-suited pack by Chas Goodall & Son Ltd for the Jockey Club, Buenos Aires.
Carte di Natale
Designed by Pier Canosa as a Christmas pack for the Cortina Art Gallery in Milan.
Queen of Arts
A wide variety of women artists celebrated on cards with illustrations by Laura Callaghan.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
