Playing cards
Category
Sports equipment, games and pastimes
Date
Unknown
Materials
Card
Measurements
95 x 60 mm
Collection
Tyntesfield, North Somerset
NT 15261.2
Summary
Set of forty eight Spanish playing cards found inside envelope (NT15261.1), with backs of a red pattern. Fronts white with coloured design. Suits contain 1 to 12 of cudgels, swords, cups and stars in discs. The 4 of cups has following wording printed on face, De una hoja. / CLASE / TERCERA. A Spanish deck of cards has always been divided in 4 suits, called: Oros (“golds” or gold coins), Copas (cups), Espadas (swords), and Bastos (clubs). These symbols supposedly represented the 4 social classes divided by the feudal society: royalty, clergy, military, and common people.
Provenance
Purchased from the estate of the late Lord Wraxall with the assistance of the NHMF and donations from members and supporters.