Haushaltgeräte

This German-suited pack forms a snapshot in time of what many household goods looked like in the early 1980s. The designer, Volker Hartmann, has somehow managed to fit a small household item, the requisite number of pips, and a man, woman or child onto each card – bar the aces where a cooker, fridge or washing machine takes centre stage. On this occasion the Obers are female. Only the 10s to 7s have indices. The pack was made for VEB Kombinat Haushaltgeräte of Karl-Marx-Stadt. Their name appears twice on the reverse – in white on a dark blue ground with a pale blue border. The extra card carries text in German, listing some of the company’s products.

Above: Haushaltgeräte publicity deck made by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Altenburg, DDR, 1981. 32 cards + 1 extra card in clear plastic box. Size: 57.5 x 87.5 mm.

Reference

Braun, Franz. Schriftenreihe “Spielkarten”, Band 2: Die Spielkarten in der DDR (2. Auflage). p.64, AS 1981/5.