Ganjifa Indian Playing Cards
Complete Dashavatara Ganjifa Playing Card Set & Box
Sawantwadi, Maharashtra, India
early 20th century
height of box: 9cm, depth of box: 9.6cm, width of box: 9cm diameter of each card: 7cm
This set is complete with 120 playing cards. Very few old and complete sets are in existence; most are at least a few cards short. The set is in its original box.
Each card is of circular form and is hand-painted on lacquered card, and comprise suites of ‘court’ cards and suites of ‘numeral’ cards. Each court card has a line of
devanagari script, presumably advising which character(s) is depicted in the card.
The cards are stored in light wood box that has been painted on all sides with a princely figure against a red ground. The top comprises a lid that can slide in and out.
Cards similar to these are illustrated in Topsfield (2006), and von Leyden (1982).
The cards here are in fine condition – there is no creasing or shipping to the edges. The box has flaking to the paint here and there as might be expected. With 120 cards, all hand-painted, such sets are akin to having 120 small, naive Indian miniature paintings.
References
Chopra, S., Ganjifa: The Playing Cards of India in Bharat Kala Bhavan, Banaras Hindu University, 1999.
von Lyeden, R.,
Ganjifa: The Playing Cards of India, Victoria & Albert Museum, 1982.
Topsfield, A., (ed.),
The Art of Play: Board and Card Games of India, Marg Publications, 2006.Provenance:
private collection, UK.
Inventory no.: 2349
SOLD
