Historical Gothic Hand Painted South German Engraver Commemorative Playing Cards

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Historical Gothic Hand Painted South German Engraver Commemorative Playing Cards:
$8750.00

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• SCARCITY: 9.8/10

• CONDITION: (Subjective) See pics / Museum Quality / Surface Wear / Heavy Edge Wear / Surface Soiling / Possibly Trimmed / Pigment Strong / All highly acceptable.

• CARD/QTY: 52/52

• FINISH/SURFACE: Unfinished Stock

• COUNTRY: Germany

• PROCESS: Steel Engraved / Hand Colour / Painted

• ENGRAVER: South German Engraver

• Subject: Commemorate the Royal marriage, in 1496

• SIZE: 5.25 x 3.50 inches

• MATERIAL: Single layer Sheet Stock

• BOX: Included

• TITLES: Roman numerals

• REVERSE: Restoration

• CELLOPHANE: Keep Cards Protected

• PROVENANCE: William Young Ottley

South German Engraver

A craftsman known as the “South German Engraver” produced this elaborate Plateresque (in the manner of the silversmith) interpretation of the Spanish-suited pack which appears to commemorate the marriage, in 1496, of Felipe I of Spain and Doña Juana, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella.

The Plateresque artistic movement was popular amongst the ruling classes of Imperial Spain, following the Reconquista and the beginning of the colonisation of the Americas, but was usually applied to architecture.Sometimes referred to as Schongauer's follower, the engraver worked the same way as most of his colleagues of the time: he copied and re-worked other engravers, as well as other playing cards and popular images. Some of the court figures have been adapted from other sources where they might have held a falcon rather than the present suit symbol.

The pack conforms to an archaic format of 52 cards with numeral cards running from 1 to banner 10s, female 'Sotas' or maids (not queens), cavaliers and kings. A number of other packs with similar characteristics may have survived elsewhere.

These late gothic playing cards are decorated - not quite 'transformed' - with birds, animals, plants, children and other miniature creatures. The suit sign of pomegranates alludes to the recently reclaimed kingdom of Granada.

During the second half of the fifteenth century, with printing technology commercially established and playing cards already a mass-produced commodity, a succession of masterly German engravers practiced their art and decorative playing cards reached a zenith.

The South German Engraver was one such craftsman who produced an elaborate, Gothic Spanish-suited pack of playing cards which appears to commemorate the marriage, in 1496, of Felipe I of Spain and Doña Juana, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella. Sometimes referred to as "Schongauer's follower" , the engraver worked the same way as most of his colleagues of the time: he copied other engravers, among them Schongauer, as well as other playing cards and popular images.

Some of the court figures have been adapted from other sources where they might have held a falcon rather than the present suit symbol.

Conforming to an archaic format of 52 cards with banner 10s, female 'Sotas', horsemen and kings, the pack is of interest on account of a number of other packs with similar characteristics surviving elsewhere, suggesting an archaic 'prototype' for the Spanish-suited genre. As can be seen, the cards are decorated - not quite 'transformed' - with birds, animals, plants, children and other creatures.

PROVENANCE: DECK ARTISAN PAINTED & OWNED

BY WILLIAM YOUNG OTTLEY

William Young Ottley was an English collector, amateur artist, and Keeper of the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. He was a specialist for 14th- and 15th-century old masters, mostly Italian. In the early 19th century he published numerous books of art, which also included high quality illustrations, printed from copper plates, prepared by Ottley personally. This is a series of 13 etchings, Ottley copied after a set of playing cards, made by a "South German Engraver" (Oberdeutscher Stecher)

Ottley was significant in his day as a writer on art, and for the series of illustrated works which he published. He began in 1805 with the first part of The Italian School of Design, a series of etchings by himself, after drawings by the old masters. The second part was published in 1813 and the third in 1823, when the whole work was issued in one volume.

Fresh from the Ottley Estate, William Young Ottley was an English collector, amateur artist, and Keeper of the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. He was a specialist for 14th- and 15th-century old masters, mostly Italian. In the early 19th century he published numerous books of art, which also included high quality illustrations, printed from copper plates, prepared by Ottley personally. This is a series of 13 etchings, Ottley copied after a set of playing cards, made by a "South German Engraver" (Oberdeutscher Stecher)

Ottley was significant in his day as a writer on art, and for the series of illustrated works which he published. He began in 1805 with the first part of The Italian School of Design, a series of etchings by himself, after drawings by the old masters. The second part was published in 1813 and the third in 1823, when the whole work was issued in one volume.

In 1816 he published an Inquiry into the Origin and Early History of Engraving on Copper and Wood, which was followed by four folio volumes of engravings of The Stafford Gallery.

In 1831 he published Notices of Engravers and their Works which was the start of a dictionary of artists, which he decided not to continue; and in 1863, after his death, appeared An Inquiry into the Invention of Printing, a companion to his work on the origin of engraving.

This is a true piece of gaming history as this rare painted card deck does tell a story and also proves that owning such a magnificent museum quality artifact is truly remarkable for any collector! This spectacular investment example is only one reason why to own such a piece that's rich in German history.

Now you can own one historic handpainted, Playing Card set with pure confidence and having the luxury of displaying a historic time piece that will showcase your prized collection!

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