The World of Playing Cards Logo

Waisenfond

Published August 22, 2012 Updated May 29, 2022

Intended to attract donations on behalf of the Imperial Royal Austrian Military Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund, this elegant and refined deck was designed by Nellie Stern. The deck was printed by Ferdinand Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna in 1916.

1916 Austria Piatnik Nellie Stern Art & Design Art Deco

Wiener Waisenfond Whist No.1

Manufactured by Ferdinand Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna, 1916.

Intended to attract donations on behalf of the Imperial Royal Austrian Military Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund, established in 1914, this elegant and refined deck was designed by Nellie Stern, a member of the “Wiener Werkstatte” (the “Vienna Workshop”, a community of visual artists which flourished 1903–1932, famous for it's Art Deco designs). The cards display beautiful subtle colours and intricate detail. The deck was printed by Ferdinand Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna in 1916 and reprinted in 1981 by A.S.S.

“Wiener Waisenfond Whist No.1”, manufactured by Ferdinand Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna, for the Imperial Royal Austrian Military Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund, 1916

Above: Aces and Court cards from “Wiener Waisenfond Whist No.1”, manufactured by Ferdinand Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna, for the Imperial Royal Austrian Military Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund, 1916. Designed by Nelly Stern. Colour lithography: 52 cards + Joker + 1 extra card: 91mm x 61mm. Images courtesy Barney Townshend.

avatar
131 Articles

By Barney Townshend

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.

Related Articles

2024 Queen of Arts

Queen of Arts

A wide variety of women artists celebrated on cards with illustrations by Laura Callaghan.

2015 Fredericks & Mae playing cards

Fredericks & Mae playing cards

A rainbow pack from the design team of Fredericks & Mae and Benjamin English.

1798 Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy t...

1990 Play Architecture

Play Architecture

Twentieth century architects and their creations on a well-designed pack from Finland.

1990 Leadmill playing cards

Leadmill playing cards

Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.

Art pack I

Art pack I

Art pack featuring Old Masters, including Bruegel, Vermeer, Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, Canaletto, ...

2010 Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards designed by Jim Sutherland, c.2010.

2022 Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools playing cards designed by Leo Scherfig, 2022.

1973 Karl Korab

Karl Korab

Austrian artist Karl Korab’s first pack, displaying his use of different techniques.

1980 Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,

1862 Johann Nejedly Tarok Cards

Johann Nejedly Tarok Cards

Johann Nejedly, a 19th-century Viennese card maker, produced Tarock cards featuring modern scenes th...

2000 Austria Ski Team playing cards

Austria Ski Team playing cards

Photos of members of the Austrian skiing team replace the normal courts on two different packs.

Heathen Divinities

Heathen Divinities

Handmade playing cards from the British Museum depicting classical Greek and Roman gods and goddesse...

2010 Grunwald 1410 – The Battle of Tannenberg

Grunwald 1410 – The Battle of Tannenberg

Details from the famous painting of the Battle of Grunwald (1410) by the Polish painter Jan Matejko....

1973 Colonial Art

Colonial Art

A collection of 53 pieces of art showcasing detailed scenes from early American colonial life.

1854 Joseph Sürch, Engraver

Joseph Sürch, Engraver

Joseph Sürch, a prominent Viennese engraver, made significant contributions to card sheet engraving ...