Pictorial Review: Rare Playing Cards with Old Time Art

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Pictorial Review: Rare Playing Cards with Old Time Art

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RARE PLAYING CARDS WITH OLD TIME ART

RarePlayingCards.com has to be one of my new favourite web-sites! When I stumbled across it for the first time, I could hardly believe the enormous and amazing repository of playing cards available for purchase there. Their online catalogue lists more than 300 different decks of cards, all with image galleries so you can see exactly what you're getting. But they don't just sell any old playing cards, but only the best: high quality designer decks, from well-known publishers/brands and from obscure designers - hence the "rare" in Rare Playing Cards! While the word "rare" can refer to old things, it is primarily about scarcity - something rare is something that is not found in large numbers. It's easy to find decks of cheap and low quality playing cards at your nearby supermarket, but it's the more special breed of rarities and custom playing cards that RarePlayingCards sells. In this review, I will show you some of their decks that I own myself and have first-hand experience with, and I will give you a pictorial overview of them.

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So we've covered old time games and old time film, now it's time to look back in the past at another cultural highlight: the world of art! Can these rare playing cards help us step back in time, and enjoy some old time art from years gone by?

Uusi Classic deck

Let's head back to the Renaissance era for some inspiration, and take a visit to the headquarters of Uusi, a Chicago design studio, which features established artists Peter Dunham and Linnea Gits, who work in the design field. They've had their work featured in numerous publications, including the New York Times, and their art has been used in award winning advertising campaigns.

With credentials like that, it's no surprise that when they turned their hand to creative custom playing cards, they were a big success. They've designed several artful takes on playing cards, including the popular Bohemia Playing Cards deck, the playful Hot Cakes, the modernist BRuT, and the deck featured next, Uusi Classic, which comes in either a red or a blue version, both with embossed tuck boxes.

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This beautiful deck features stunning hand-painted artwork that was inspired by era of the Renaissance. The word "Renaissance" literally translates from French to English as "rebirth", and Peter and Linnea wanted to celebrate the rebirth of the humble playing card with their own interpretation of a classic style deck.

In 2012 the Uusi team began a series of decks for which they made a deliberate decision to only use traditional art methods rather than computer generated imagery, being of the conviction that these traditional methods create an emotion or feeling that digital artwork cannot replicate or capture. This deck was the sixth and last of that series.

The spectacular artwork begins with the delicate hand-painted patterns on the card backs, and a very elaborate design for the Ace of Spades.

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The court cards feature characters that are intricately detailed and carefully painted, with a strong historical connection that makes you feel as if you just stepped back into time into Europe during the Renaissance.

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They are also entirely original, rather than just being a variation of standard court cards.

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The number cards also look very stylish, and it's not often that I've seen a deck that stays true to the classic look of the pips, and yet has a very distinct style of its own as this clearly does.

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The deck is rounded out with two beautiful Jokers.

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The Uusi Classic Playing Cards are indeed a real and rare treasure, and definitely worthy of their place in a "Rare Playing Cards" collection.

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Where to find it: https://rareplayingcards.com/products/u ... 019.2dd030" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Russian Folk Art deck

Our historical journey to the world of art isn't over yet, because now we head to Russia, to explore some traditional folk art designs, that have roots in a long tradition.

Natalia Silva is the designer of the Russian Folk Art Playing Cards, which was printed by USPCC. She has created a number of other artistic decks, but the Russian Folk Art deck is one of her most artistic, most popular, and best, and she's produced several versions of it.

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For this deck, which features strong colours of red and green often associated today with Christmas, Natalia took her inspiration from her Russian heritage and culture. In her own words "Traditional folk art has always played an intrinsic part of domestic culture across Russia and represents the rooted artistic perceptions, traditions and practices of the citizens." In making these cards, she created 54 original designs. That's right: every single card in the deck has a different design, including the number cards!

The circular floral design on the card-backs immediately creates an artistic impression of a careful design within the context of strict patterns and structures. A similar style emerges with the over-sized Aces, which have ornate decorations inside and around them, like the Ace of Hearts here.

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Every other number in the deck features a single image with variations according to each suit. For example, the 10s all feature the Russian Orthodox Church, while the 2s seen below all feature the Kremlin, which is the heart of Russian political life, and the centre of its culture and history.

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The 9s all picture a Russian Samovar, a device traditionally used to heat and boil water for tea, and in Russian tradition considered to have a soul.

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Russian folk art often features nature themes, like the 3s, which have different design elements symbolic of protection against evil and sources of good things. The 5s feature the famous Russian Nesting Doll (Matryoshka), invented over 100 years ago, and today widely recognized as a symbol of Russian culture.

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Traditionally, the style of Russian folk art involved many decorative elements, like ornaments and floral designs (e.g. flowers, leaves, buds). Wild flowers and berries are common motifs. The bird is often used as a symbol of the promise of harvest and wealth, and embodying love, marriage, and motherhood.

This uncut sheet gives a good overview of the entire deck, and a sense of the intricate details and artistic variety.

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Given their obvious resemblance, it will come as no surprise that the court cards are all inspired by the Russian Nesting Doll. Notice again the strong emphasis on nature and floral motifs.

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Where to find it: https://rareplayingcards.com/products/r ... 019.2dd030" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CONCLUSIONS

If you're in the market for a deck of custom playing cards that is truly creative, artistic, unusual, or memorable, you're not likely to find that at your local corner store. But these are the kinds of rare decks of playing cards that you will find at rareplayingcards.com. Whether you're looking for that one-of-a-kind high end deck for your own enjoyment, or a gift for another gamer, RarePlayingCards.com has something that will suit, and the decks you see here are fine examples.

To see more, head here.

Uusi Classic deck: https://rareplayingcards.com/products/u ... 019.2dd030" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Russian Folk Art deck: https://rareplayingcards.com/products/r ... 019.2dd030" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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BoardGameGeek reviewer EndersGame => Playing Card Reviews <=>Magic Reviews <=> Board Game Reviews <=

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