Tarot de las Coscojas

This is the second (of two) Tarot decks designed by Claudio Favier Orendáin (1931-2008) a Mexican philosopher, writer and artist who at the time was living near Peraleda de la Mata in Extremadura, Spain. Both sets were produced in his studio at «Las Coscojas». The leaflet explains that since antiquity mankind has tried to predict the future by examining prophetic omens or secret signs of various types, and that the symbols in the tarot have very ancient origins in the distant past, long before they were incorporated into a pack of cards.

The Major Arcana

The 22 Major Arcana are large-sized cards (89 x 144 mm) with Roman numerals at the top and titles in Spanish at the bottom. They have been very elegantly designed and engraved by Claudio Favier and follow the standard sequence found in most tarot packs, but with refinements added by the artist that distinguish them from traditional Marseille or Rider-Waite decks. The figures have a slightly cubist or expressionist quality and the designs include a lot of clearly defined detail. The contrast between bright colours and black outlines makes them stand out clearly within the grey borders.

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There are also some interpretative shifts, for example, the High Priestess' book openly displays a text, suggesting revealed knowledge rather than hidden mysteries. The skeletal Death figure plays on a chessboard, suggesting strategy or calculated transformation rather than mere destruction. Temperance (La Templanza), the water-pouring angel, has a beautiful flowing motion, emphasizing fluidity and harmony. Many other figures display a similarly harmonious design. The Star contains mushroom imagery alluding to psychedelic or visionary experiences. Traditional Tarot interpretations are given in the leaflet

The Playing Cards

The set also contains two 56-card packs of playing cards, with four court cards per suit (Jack, Queen, Cavalier and King) plus 2 jokers for playing normal card games. The suit symbols are simultaneously French/English and Spanish/Italian by design. These cards are not intended to be used in conjunction with the Trump cards as they as of a smaller size (61x88 mm).

The artist’s style in these playing cards is a fusion of historical European playing cards, particularly from the 15th-17th centuries, with figures wearing elaborate, period attire. The stylized halos or decorative frames around the heads of some figures suggest sanctity or mysticism rather than mere playing card royalty, thereby blending historical playing card design, tarot symbolism and an almost psychedelic medieval surrealism to create a uniquely evocative deck.

Above: Tarot de las Coscojas designed by Claudio Favier, 2005. 22 large-size major arcana cards, 89x144 mm, plus two 56-card packs of ordinary playing cards, 61x88 mm, with 2 jokers and an extra card in each pack, inside a presentation box with an instruction leaflet.

• See also Tarot de Valverde de la Vera►