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
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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