Gaming Box
ca. 1850 (made)
Place of origin |
The card game, ganjifa, is usually played with small, circular cards like these, and the pack contains 96 cards divided into eight suits of twelve. Two of these are court cards and the remaining ten are numerical. The suits in this pack are named after, and symbolically depict, various aspects of courtly life: the crown, the sword, gold and silver coins, servant, harp, document and cloth. The cards and the decorative box in which they are kept were made at Nirmal, near Hyderabad and are elaborately painted with gold leaf decoration.
The game of ganjifa, and its eight-suit pack, originated in Iran but had spread to India by the Mughal period. Card-playing soon became popular throughout the subcontinent and was enjoyed by both Muslims and Hindus. Ganjifa is still sometimes played today, although mostly by older people. It is based on the players aiming to collect 'tricks', rather like the western games of whist or bridge.
The game of ganjifa, and its eight-suit pack, originated in Iran but had spread to India by the Mughal period. Card-playing soon became popular throughout the subcontinent and was enjoyed by both Muslims and Hindus. Ganjifa is still sometimes played today, although mostly by older people. It is based on the players aiming to collect 'tricks', rather like the western games of whist or bridge.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
Materials and techniques | Paper, paint and lacquer |
Brief description | Box with playing cards, Nirmal, c. 1850 |
Physical description | Box, with sliding lid, containing circular playing cards. Both box and cards are painted with images of figures and animals. |
Dimensions |
|
Credit line | Given by H.M. Queen Mary |
Summary | The card game, ganjifa, is usually played with small, circular cards like these, and the pack contains 96 cards divided into eight suits of twelve. Two of these are court cards and the remaining ten are numerical. The suits in this pack are named after, and symbolically depict, various aspects of courtly life: the crown, the sword, gold and silver coins, servant, harp, document and cloth. The cards and the decorative box in which they are kept were made at Nirmal, near Hyderabad and are elaborately painted with gold leaf decoration. The game of ganjifa, and its eight-suit pack, originated in Iran but had spread to India by the Mughal period. Card-playing soon became popular throughout the subcontinent and was enjoyed by both Muslims and Hindus. Ganjifa is still sometimes played today, although mostly by older people. It is based on the players aiming to collect 'tricks', rather like the western games of whist or bridge. |
Bibliographic references |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | IM.78:1, 2-1938 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | January 7, 2000 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest