Playing cards - Paper

06
days
09
hours
26
minutes
16
seconds
Current bid
€ 550
Reserve price not met
Sean Devitt
Expert
Selected by Sean Devitt

Worked 12 years at a major UK auction house valuing and curating toys.

Estimate  € 4,400 - € 4,900
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€550
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A 40-card, hand-painted playing deck from central Italy dating to 1800–1850, in very good condition and featuring rivoltinatura protection, unsigned and likely a commissioned work from the period.

AI-assisted summary

Description from the seller

A deck of hand-painted playing cards from central Italy in the early 1800s. They are rare/unobtainable. They have been assessed by several experts, all of whom gave roughly the same opinion. A unique piece, as was customary at the time for commissioned works (the author cannot be defined because they are unsigned, even though they were almost certainly created by a notable artist. When commissioned, especially by important families, authors often did not sign them).

The photos speak for themselves and highlight the author's hand. Considering the horses, which are visible from the back in reverse (not seen in such decks of this kind), they might evoke Napoleon’s defeat and therefore probably date after 1815.

The Rivoltinatura technique is present (an Italian technique used to protect playing cards).

The cards appear as shown in the photos, i.e., without signs of wear and in excellent condition.

I have owned them for over 40 years.

A deck of hand-painted playing cards from central Italy in the early 1800s. They are rare/unobtainable. They have been assessed by several experts, all of whom gave roughly the same opinion. A unique piece, as was customary at the time for commissioned works (the author cannot be defined because they are unsigned, even though they were almost certainly created by a notable artist. When commissioned, especially by important families, authors often did not sign them).

The photos speak for themselves and highlight the author's hand. Considering the horses, which are visible from the back in reverse (not seen in such decks of this kind), they might evoke Napoleon’s defeat and therefore probably date after 1815.

The Rivoltinatura technique is present (an Italian technique used to protect playing cards).

The cards appear as shown in the photos, i.e., without signs of wear and in excellent condition.

I have owned them for over 40 years.

Details

Era
1400-1900
Number of objects
40
Material
Paper
Country of origin
Italy
Condition
Very good
Estimated period
1800-1850
ItalyVerified
Private

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