Playing Cards

16585D

From: India | Maharashtra

Curatorial Section: Asian

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Object Number 16585D
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Indian | Hindu
Provenience India | Maharashtra
Date Made 19th Century - 1893
Section Asian
Materials Paper
Technique Lacquered
Iconography Ankusha | Gada | Trishula
Description

Ganjifa cards. Aryadev pack. 7 round playing cards of lacquered paper. Each card is red on one side. On the other side each card has a green or red edge with concentric circles and repeated flower motif. At the center the motif for each suit is repeated one to ten times.There are three suits which are as follows: 1 card with the Ankusha or elephant goad on a red background representing Ganesha, 2 cards with the Gada or club on a black background representing Vishnu, and 4 cards with Trishula or trident on a yellow background representing Shiva.

Outside Diameter 7.9 cm
Credit Line Purchased from / at the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893

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