Lyon pattern by Michel Ressy
Lyon pattern by Michel Ressy, c.1760.
French cards often feature figures from the 15th or 16th centuries, possibly derived from images of saints or legendary heroes. In the Lyon pattern of the 18th century the king of clubs holds an orb and sceptre over his shoulder, the king of hearts is depicted with a falcon on his hand and the queens carry fans and flowers, while the the jack of spades smokes a pipe and the jack of clubs carries a shield and has the name 'Lyon' by his feet.
Above: Lyon pattern by Michel Ressy, c.1760. 32 woodblock and stencil-coloured cards with wrapper. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Jeu de cartes au portrait de Lyon►
Michel Ressy (active 1727-1772) was a master card maker in Lyon, parish of Notre-Dame de la Platière, the son and successor of Olivier Ressy. He married Marie-Anne Payen, who succeeded him until his death on 24 Jan. 1776. The wrapper which accompanies the pack has the address rue de la lanterne, n° 33, Lyon where he worked between c.1745-1772. See the wrapper►
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.
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