Mapuche Indian Playing Cards
Spanish-suited playing cards made on rawhide and said to have been used by Chilean Mapuche Indians, XVI-XVII century
Spanish-suited playing cards made on rawhide and said to have been used by Chilean Mapuche Indian men, XVI-XVII century. We know that Spanish soldiers commenced colonising South American territories from the early 16th century and were also heavy gamblers. At the same time, the Indians captured firearms, horses and other items from the intruders which changed their way of life. These cards appear to have been copied from 40-card Spanish models by a draughtsman unfamiliar with finer details of Spanish playing card pictures but who somehow imitated their basic shape and layout so that they could be used for playing Monte.
Above: Spanish-suited playing cards made on rawhide by the Mapuche Indians, Chile, XVI-XVII century. 39 cards. Image courtesy the Museo de América (Madrid) Inv. No. 13.638/676.
Above: Mapuche jewelry, 635mm x 50mm. Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino.
Mapuche art also includes metal-work, jewelry, pottery, weaving, music and dance, with instruments such as the kultrún and truruka used to produce the unique sounds that characterize traditional rites celebrating the Mapuche cosmovision and cycle of life.
Above: Mapuche textile, 3920mm x 70mm. Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino.
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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