Playing Cards
Playing Card Box
Playing Card Box Lid
21798
From: India
Curatorial Section: Asian
Object Number | 21798 |
Current Location | Collections Storage |
Culture | Indian | Hindu |
Provenience | India |
Date Made | 18th Century - 1900 |
Section | Asian |
Materials | Paper |
Iconography | Vishnu |
Description | Dasavatara ganjifa playing cards which represent the ten avatars of Vishnu. There are ten suits with twelve cards in each suit, ten numbered cards and two court cards, for a complete set of 120 cards. The suits are the following: Matsya suit on a black background and a fish, Kurma suit on a brown background and a turtle, Varaha suit on dark green background with a conch, Narasmimha suit on a green background with a chakra, Vamana suit on a yellow background with water pot, Parashurama suit on a yellow background with an axe, Rama suit on a red background with an arrow, Krishna suit on a crimson background with plough, Buddha suit on a yellow background with a lotus flower, and Kalkin suit on a red background with a sword (missing two face cards). |
Outside Diameter | 5 cm |
Credit Line | Gift of Dr. J. V. Ingham, 1900 |
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