Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).
These late XVII century Spanish-suited cards by Grossard represent an archaic pattern which was widely produced in France as well as Spain. Many early examples come from France.¹ In these early days card designs were being exported via trade routes and copied between different areas.
The woodcut outlines and stencil colouring in this example are clearly defined. The ace of coins features a Spanish coat-of-arms with the inscription “Histania Rex Carolv Dei Gratia”, and the name I. Grossard appears in a scroll. The eagle looks more like an owl. The king holds a small axe and the cavalier of coins is seen from behind. The two of swords has a partly illegible inscription “Fecha en Bordaux” probably reflecting the regional dialect of the time. The ace of swords, with its ornamental strap and characteristically accompanied by a naked person, has the name Guillaume Grossard, suggesting that these cards come from two incomplete packs. The ‘sota’ of cups displays a heraldic lion. There are no line-breaks, or ‘pintas’, as these didn't appear until the mid-eighteenth century. Three of the jacks have additional decorative flowers.
Cards with similar designs were produced by Jean Pouns S.S. (possibly of San Sebastian). The Five of Coins shows the portraits of the Catholic monarchs, whilst the Four of Coins has a six-pointed star with a shield in the centre. The Ace of Swords has a small person in the background.
The Franco-Spanish pattern is known from before the Spanish National pattern emerged, which was an entirely new design probably originating in 17th century Catalonia. Prior to all this, the so-called ‘dragon cards’ were used in Spain, also in Italy, Sicily and Malta, as well as several earlier Gothic Spanish-suited patterns. Earlier still, of course, cards first arrived from the Islamic world to Spain and Italy in c.1370.
Notes and References
¹ Examples include packs by Diego del Campo (Toledo, c.1540), Pierre Pepin (Seville) and Phelippe Ayet (Valencia, 1574), François Gaben, Jehan Person, Jean Pouns, Guillaume Grossard (Bordeaux) and Jehan Volay. Examples made in Spain were often by French immigrant card makers. Examples from Toledo dated 1584 are also known.
Bibliothèque nationale de France: Cartes d'un jeu au portrait espagnol►
Denning, Trevor: The Playing-Cards of Spain, Cygnus Arts, London, 1996
Mann, Sylvia: All Cards on the Table, Jonas Verlag/Deutsches Spielkarten-Museum, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, 1990
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
La Baraja del Mundial
“La Baraja del Mundial” satirical football deck published by Fournier for ‘Interviú’ news magazine. ...
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.
Hispania Romana
Educational card game depicting the Roman period in Spanish history.
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.
Paris 2024 Olympics 1
Modern Paris pattern courts, special ace and jokers for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
QAIPES – cartas españolas
Spanish-suited cards made in China inscribed “QAIPES” and “BAIPES”!
Baraja de la Cocina Española
A celebration of Spanish gastronomy, with designs by Silja Götz employing non-standard suits.
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.