Indian Ganjifa Playing Card Set

Ganjifa Playing Card Set & Box

This large and colourful Ganjifa set dates to around 1975, when the previous owner acquired it in India on his travels. The cards are unusually large and with 120 cards present, it is complete.

The set is housed in a rectangular prism box made of wood panels brightly painted in polychrome with scenes of deities, including one that includes Ganesh on the lid. The lid slides into the box at the top.

The box contains 120 large, round cards on lacquered card. The box and all the cards are in excellent condition.

The ‘raja’ or ‘court’ cards are especially colourful; the less elaborate ‘numeral’ cards are beautifully rendered and are fine items of artwork in their own right.

Ganjifa originated in Persia but it really flourished in India where the game developed in various forms. Meanwhile, in Persia, the game largely died out. Initially in India, the game was played by the Mughals of northern India, but it soon spread to most parts of the country.

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.