Card Game thumbnail 1
Card Game thumbnail 2
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Card Game

19th century (made)
Place of origin

Complete set of 96 circular ganjifa cards in 8 suits in a wooden box with sliding lid. The cards are of starched cotton, painted and laquered. The box is of wood, covered with cloth and painted and laquered. Both cards and box are illustrated with scenes from the Ramayana.

Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Box
  • Box Lid
Materials and techniques
Cotton tissue, starched, painted and laquered. Back: red with scalloped border design and central floral ornament.
Brief description
Set of 96 playing cards (ganjifa) with lidded box, Orissa, 19th century
Physical description
Complete set of 96 circular ganjifa cards in 8 suits in a wooden box with sliding lid. The cards are of starched cotton, painted and laquered. The box is of wood, covered with cloth and painted and laquered. Both cards and box are illustrated with scenes from the Ramayana.
Dimensions
  • Each card diameter: 9.6cm
  • Height of box height: 14.5cm
  • Width of box width: 12.2cm
  • Depth of box depth: 11cm
Credit line
Given by Dr Isobel Wilson
Object history
The Rev. H.W.Pike, a retired Baptist missionary and scholar, has translated and commented upon the legends on the cards in an accompanying notebook.
Production
Attributed by Rudolf von Leyden to the region of Parlakhemundi, Southern Orissa, 19th century
Literary referenceRamayana
Bibliographic references
  • Ganjifa, the playing cards of India : a general survey with a catalogue of the Victoria and Albert Museum collection / by Rudolf von Leyden ; with contributions by Michael Dummett. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, [1982?] Number: 0905209176
  • Rogers, Emma, Arts of Asia "Tales from India: The Art of Indian Storytelling" January-February 2016 Number: vol. 46, no. 1 p. 1123, no. 7.
Collection
Accession number
IS.46A-1963

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Record createdJanuary 18, 2008
Record URL
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