Layout 2 - Cartorama

NEWSLETTER
N0. 4
CARTORAMA
May 2014
It is no mistake that our Newsletter No. 4 comes out now, in May. For Cartorama's spring
catalogue was published in April. After the thrill, head free, we can focus again on anecdotes and worth knowing bits from the fascinating world of playing cards. This time, we'd
like to place special emphasis on something unusual, two slim and notably high glasses.
They are so-called „Passgläser“, some kind of beakers, bearing witness of past convivial
drinking rituals.
Remember
The joint meeting of the German association „Bube Dame König“ and of the Austro-Hungarian „Talon“ will take place in Frankfurt/M. from May 29 till June 1.
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©CARTORAMA Jean Darquenne & Angela Joschko
A toast to the craft
The name „Passglas“ (pass glass) comes from the
German-suited cards display the Saxony pattern, the
measure of length and means „size, section“. And
Both our glasses with their designs painted by hand
Latin word „passus“ which designates a Roman
just such sections are marked by lines on both glasses.
Not without good reason: when the members of
guilds or associations used to meet for a communal
gathering in former times, the „Passglas“ went from
hand to hand. And each one had to drink exactly to
the next measure line, beer or wine, in one gulp.
The first glasses of that type, specially the ones rep-
resenting playing cards, assumingly came up in the
glassworks of Saxony and Thuringia in the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries. But they may very well
have been also produced in other places. According
to the opinion of experts, there are only two larger
series left, in the Art Collections of the Veste Coburg
in Franconia and in the German Playing-card Museum in Leinfelden near Stuttgart, respectively. Sin-
gle examples can also be found in other museums
and in private collections. All known glasses with
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so-called „Alte Schwerterkarte“ (Old Swords Card).
must be younger. Our „Unter“ (Under, or Jack) of
Leaves is a variation of the afore-mentioned Old
Swords Pattern. The figure resembles much its counterpart in a deck from Wolfenbüttel around 1785
– with a difference: our Jack carries a wooden mug
in his right hand, and nothing in the other. Over him
is the motto „ Ich fürchte mich nicht“ (I do not fear).
The other glass shows a 10 of Hearts (or 10 of Reds).
Its motif – Amor hits with an arrow from his cross-
bow a heart attached to a pole – is almost identical
to the one found on the same card of the Bohemia
pattern. This pattern did not exist – so far we know
– before the late 18th century. We believe that the designs belong to the imagery of the Biedermeier period. That is why we'd like to date both glasses in the
first half of the 19th century. Fortunately they have
overlived all hardships of time.
The choice, or like will to like
This pack of cards does not actually be-
give males and females a sweet inno-
long under the headword „fashion“,
cent look. But not so the impressive
rather instead in the category „tradi-
representative of Hungary. Yes, he
tional costumes“. But which couturier
turns his back on us. But to see him
does not occasionally get his inspiration
standing there in his royal blue gear,
from the customary dresses of various
richly adorned with passements, in his
cultures when he comes short of ideas?
right hand a headdress with long feath-
And has not the Bavarian dirndl started
ers, in the left one an even much longer
a really phenomenal triumph from the
pipe, commands our respect.
Munich beer tent all the way across
The hand-colored etchings with Ger-
Germany up to Hamburg's fish market
man and French captions were pub-
last year? That is why our deck „The
lished in the art gallery of H. F. Müller,
choice“, or „Like will to like“ (French:
„am Kohlmarkt Nº 1140“. Matthäus
“Le choix ou qui se ressemble s'assem-
Loder, born in Vienna in 1781, was a
ble”) could indeed provide today de-
longtime companion of Archduke Jo-
signers with impulses.
hann of Austria. They used to wander
This parlour game for two to twelve
together through Upper Styria. Loder
people was created around 1820. It
was in charge to depict the countryside
shows on twelve illuminated cards
people – hunters, miners, woodcutters
("zwölf illuminirten Karten") lovely
for example – in their traditional cos-
costumes from different areas. The
tumes. Archduke Johann collected the
artist Matthäus Loder has drawn,
watercolors, that is why a good number
meticulously precise, the characteristics
has survived until today.
of costumes from Tyrol and Hungary,
A 1913 reprint of Loder's gorgeous
Styria and Dalmatia, Upper Austria
„Zerrbilder menschlicher Thorheiten
and the Venetian mountain region. The
und Schwächen“ (Distorted images of
cards are arranged in couples, all of
human follies and weaknesses) from
them with markedly flush cheeks that
1818 has just been auctioned for 140 €.
Subtly erotic, strong and mysterious, that is
how the women's squad appears in this double
deck by Inge Clayton. And hardly any of the
women resembles another. Despite their bareness, none of them seems to be at the mercy
of the few masculine performers. Their earnest miens lay open: „We remain at the helm.“
The design is fascinating, a kind of collage.
Inge Clayton combines intense, cloudy color
areas with cut out, sharply contoured numerals, characters and suit-signs. Her women
are embedded in these structures, staged in
short scenes that look like snapshots. Like
freeze frames, occurred more at random. That
is how the card player unawares slips into the
role of a voyeur.
Inge Clayton, who emigrated from Austria to
England in the nineteensixties, where she advanced to a highly respected artist, died with
just 68 years in 2012. She has signed our
deck, published in a limited original edition of
150 copies, and dated it „07“ (2007).
LOVE
"Card Tricks" is the name of this deck by "Hit the Deck Enterprises, San Francisco". Who is not really
familiar with the gay scene might think: „OK, someone wants to bluff here. Just the normal card tricks.“
Admitted – we also had to do tough research in order to suss out what all San Francisco presumably
knows since way back: „Card tricks“ means „Doggy style“. So, it is now up to you to guess the rest.
This deck from the year 1981 has obviously been
designed for gay people. The „Kings“ are stout
before you haven't started to investigate. In this
case, it is a musculous workman who decidedly
men in tangible jobs: King of Hearts is „Bob“
holds up in the air hammer and screw-
Why else would they have chosen this
hammer, that looks on one side so
King of Diamonds displays a cow-
– a synonym for so much. You just don't realize
driver, seemingly as a token of manhood.
special type of hammer, a ball-peen (!)
much like a glans?
boy, his rope neatly coiled and the
branding iron ready. And look at that
King of Spades! One of them hard guys:
full-grown fellas, but... with surprisingly
dreamful eyes. The „Queens“ are mag-
cuffs, chains, beer bottle and weed – mis-
nificent spruced up transvestites, here and
And the „Knaves“: well, just lads.
or creative professions, exactly as the
interior designer and florist.
Yet the jokers pose a riddle. The corready-to-shot camera – should
not the same guy on the other half
understanding impossible. All together
there whimsically winking at the viewer.
Younglings with soft features in serving
cliché mantains it is: hairdresser, waiter,
pulent man in casual gear, with his
that be a peeper incognito? Is that
of the card, this time more formal
with a burning cigar? And in both cases, his eyes are hidden behind glasses... So we prefer to commend
the Ace of Spades where the publisher has perpetuated his name. But not just with an inscription. No,
here is a naked power pack beaming at us, a sailor maybe? Who does not have his heart in the right place,
but at least spades.
Maker unknown. „Ich fürcht mich nicht“ (I do not fear). „Passglas“ with a Jack of Leaves. Colorless hand blown glass with
enamel painting. 100 mm diameter (base), 60 mm (rim), 245 mm (height). Circa 1830.
Lit.: Comp. Kranich/Radau/Schlede [2009] vol. 1 no. AS 4 and 10.
The glass is divided in 4 sections, numbered 1 to 4 from top to bottom.
Very good conservation.
US$ 686.00
€ 490,-
Maker unknown. „Passglas“ with a 10 of Hearts. Colorless hand blown glass with enamel painting. 91 mm diameter (base), 59
mm (rim), 245 mm (height). Circa 1830.
Lit.: Comp. Reisinger [Herz Schelle Laub Eichel] 2/76-77, 80-83 and 88 ff.
The glass is divided in 4 sections, numbered 1 to 4 from top to bottom.
Very good conservation.
US$ 686.00
€ 490,-
Heinrich Friedrich Müller, am Kohlmarkt Nº 1149, Vienna. Die Wahl, oder Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern. Design:
Matthäus Loder (1781-1828). 12 cards, complete. Hand-col. etching, 105x75 mm, square corners. Backs: Plain white. Circa 1820.
Lit.: Comp. Papierspiele & Bilderbogen aus Tokio und Wien 1780-1880, No. 93.
„Die Wahl, oder Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern“ (The choice, or Birds of a feather flock together / Le choix ou Qui se ressemble s’assemble) is made of
12 figures from 6 regions, male and female: Hungary, Venetian mountains, Tyrol, Styria, Dalmatia aund Upper Austria. Captions in German and French.
Pretty pictures by the celebrated artist. With a label of „K. Hofbuchhandlung von Ph. J. Bayer in München Schrannen Platz Nº 3.“
Faintly damaged OSlipcase, somewhat soiled, slightly worn.
US$ 770.00
€ 550,Inge Clayton, London (printed by Richard Edwards, London). The Decadent Deck. Design: Inge Clayton (1942-2010). 2 x
52 + JJ (all different) + 2 different illustrated EC, complete. Offset, 88x57 mm, round corners, 2 English index marks. Backs: Red-haired man
from the front or naked woman from the back, in dark tones. 2007.
Inge Clayton is a painter and sculptor in London. Her first deck of cards is illustrated with own designs, which portray people - almost exclusively women.
Numbered edition of 150 double decks, signed by the artist.
OBox, mint.
US$ 154.00
€ 110,Hit The Deck Enterprises, San Francisco, CA. Card Tricks. 52 + JJ (all different), complete. Offset, 89x63 mm, round corners, 2
English index marks. Backs: Ornamental panel, white on blue background.
Maker’s name on Ace of Spades & Jack of Hearts. 1981.
Lit.: Braun 2259.
The courts display male homosexuals. The kings are strong guys (cowboy, building worker...), the queens transvestites and the jacks young men in (assumedly) typical gay professions (waiter, interior designer...) Special Ace of Spades.
Min. damaged OBox, mint.
US$ 63.00
€ 45,-
CARTORAMA
Schlossgasse 1 • D - 99837 Dankmarshausen• Tel. +49 36922 439750 • Mobile +49 176 32841412
Email: [email protected] • Internet: www.cartorama.de
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