Set of Whist Cards

1850-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Whist is a card game which originated in England and was widely played in the 18th and 19th centuries. Using a standard 52 card pack, four players in two partnerships compete across 13 rounds (or 'tricks') to outscore their opponents. A trick consists of up to four cards - one per player - with the highest ranking card winning the trick. Playing a trump automatically wins the trick.

The final card dealt by the dealer indicates which suit will be trumps. During each trick, the matching marker from this set would have been left on the table as a visual reminder of which suit was trumps for that particular game.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Enamel, gilded metal
Brief description
Enamel whist trump cards in a gilt metal locket; France, 1850-1900
Physical description
Round gilt metal locket with chased design and the word 'Whist' engraved on the lid; containing four enamel discs, each showing the ace and king cards of each suit. The kings are labelled 'Charles', 'Caesar', 'David' and 'Alexander'.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 19mm (Note: Measurement is for the locket at its widest (including the bail). Individual enamels are about 2 mm smaller. )
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by the Misses Bannatyne in memory of their uncle Mr. Robert Jarvie
Object history
Given by the Misses Bannatyne in memory of their uncle Mr. Robert Jarvie. This object was originally acquired in 1957 by the V&A's Prints and Drawings Department, and later transferred to the Bethnal Green Museum (later the Museum of Childhood) [57/2489]
Subjects depicted
Summary
Whist is a card game which originated in England and was widely played in the 18th and 19th centuries. Using a standard 52 card pack, four players in two partnerships compete across 13 rounds (or 'tricks') to outscore their opponents. A trick consists of up to four cards - one per player - with the highest ranking card winning the trick. Playing a trump automatically wins the trick.

The final card dealt by the dealer indicates which suit will be trumps. During each trick, the matching marker from this set would have been left on the table as a visual reminder of which suit was trumps for that particular game.
Collection
Accession number
E.21066-1957

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Record createdMarch 4, 2000
Record URL
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