Indian. Playing cards. Nirmal 1970
SKU:
£900.00
£900.00
per item
Indian: Playing cards: Nirmal 1970. Mogul Ganjifa Rajasthan. Hand made and painted in the traditional manner, a rapidly disappearing art. 96 cards, comprising 8 sets by 12, each of a different colour and suit symbol. Housed in a wooden box, hand painted on all sides. For centuries round cards like these, painted or lacquered on thick card, were made across India, with each region having its own
distinctive name and design, with the number of cards also varying. Most sets known comprise either 144, 122 or 96 cards. In 1950 a set of 52 cards with French suit signs was made, picturing very erotic
"Kama Sutra" style scenes on each card. They were made in Puri Orissa although, possibly due to the nature of the cards, the maker is unknown? This set here is very similar to Sylvia Mann 235 A, only similar because being handmade and painted, often by different artists, no two sets are ever exactly the same. It is in wonderful condition, and certainly never been played with.
We can be further assured of this and their date and place of manufacture due to the late Kishor Gordhandis of Mumbai, who used to commission sets for himself. Apart from being a well known author and avid collector in his day, he was an expert on Indian cards and ever willing to share his expertise. He was also a prolific letter writer, always beautifully hand written in fountain pen and he loved to do little "swaps" with other collectors.The four cards shown after this I received from him, in one such exchange, although I can't for the life of me remember what I sent him! In 1990 after many years corresponding with each other, and numerous "swaps", this set just turned up out of the blue as a gift.
distinctive name and design, with the number of cards also varying. Most sets known comprise either 144, 122 or 96 cards. In 1950 a set of 52 cards with French suit signs was made, picturing very erotic
"Kama Sutra" style scenes on each card. They were made in Puri Orissa although, possibly due to the nature of the cards, the maker is unknown? This set here is very similar to Sylvia Mann 235 A, only similar because being handmade and painted, often by different artists, no two sets are ever exactly the same. It is in wonderful condition, and certainly never been played with.
We can be further assured of this and their date and place of manufacture due to the late Kishor Gordhandis of Mumbai, who used to commission sets for himself. Apart from being a well known author and avid collector in his day, he was an expert on Indian cards and ever willing to share his expertise. He was also a prolific letter writer, always beautifully hand written in fountain pen and he loved to do little "swaps" with other collectors.The four cards shown after this I received from him, in one such exchange, although I can't for the life of me remember what I sent him! In 1990 after many years corresponding with each other, and numerous "swaps", this set just turned up out of the blue as a gift.
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