From Clear The Decks Volume XV, Number
2 - June 2001
A RUSSIAN MYSTERY
By Rhonda Hawes
I know that only a hard-core
collector can appreciate what it means to acquire something that literally
takes one’s breath away, but that is exactly what happened to me a few years
ago when I first held in my hands a deck that I had purchased on ebay.
One of my main collecting interests is non-standard, original design, artistic
playing cards and so when this deck appeared on ebay I knew I had to have it,
no matter the cost. I will never
know the true story behind the creation of the deck, but based on the text on
the aces and box, I imagine that it was created out of love, as a gift from a
romantic to his/her lover.
Before I describe the cards, I would like to explain that when Judy told me
the focus of this issue of Clear The Decks was going to be on hand-drawn
decks, I immediately thought of this deck, but I wanted to do some research,
hoping to identify who the figures on the court cards are, before presenting
the deck in an article. Then I
decided that if the court cards were shown in the magazine, perhaps some of
our readers might know who these figures are, and then let me know.
So, if anyone looks familiar to you, I would appreciate hearing about
it!
Most of the text on this deck
is in Russian, so I believe the deck was made in Russia, in the 19th
century. The cards are hand-made
and hand-painted, and even the backs have been painted with the same design on
each card. Each ace and court
card is a miniature work of art, with beautiful full color and amazing detail,
given the size. Unfortunately the black and white copies shown here cannot do
these cards justice. The cards
have been coated with varnish and come in a hand-made paper box which has also
been varnished.
Each ace has a scene on it, with a verse - three in Russian and one is in
French. They are loosely translated as follows:
Ace of Spades - scene of El Escorial, text in Russian:
“From Seville to Granada in the quiet dark of night the sound of
serenade and the flute are heard.”
Ace of Hearts - scene of the Kremlin, with a view of the Ivan the Great
Belltower, text in Russian: “Moscow
– how much it means to the Russians and how well it sounds in their
hearts.”
Ace of Diamond - scene of the Doge’s Palace, text in French:
“On a chromatic scale, her string of pearls streaming, the Venus of
the Adriatic rises from the water, her body pink and white.”
Ace of Clubs - scene of the Palace of Versailles, text in Russian:
“The sweet tunes of the old castle in Versailles is where there are
many pictures in the air.”
Written on the box in Russian:
“It’s not so much your gift that is dear to me, but your love.”
I believe that the court cards in each suit depict famous historical people
from the country represented by the ace of that suit.
I am not 100% sure, and correct me if I am wrong, that the following
courts are likely:
King of Spades:
Philip II
King of Hearts:
Ivan IV
(Ivan the Terrible)
King of Diamonds:
Pope Innocent X
King of Clubs:
Louis XVI
  
Queen of Clubs:
Marie Antoinette
Jack of Clubs:
Louis XIV
I am happy to be able to share
these cards with you, and again, if you recognize any of the figures on the
court cards, please help me solve my mystery.
Editor’s Note: History
was never MY strong point but we hope that it was one of yours!
Thanks Rhonda – a neat deck.
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