King of Diamonds (Achajus) Baker and Co's Eclectic Cards
Printmaker:
Unknown
Publisher:
Baker & Co
A hand-coloured etching and engraving on pasteboard of a King wearing a golden crown and golden breastplate, standing within a church interior. He wears a tartan tunic of green and red underneath and a red and green cloak. He holds a sceptre in his right hand and a cross in his left and wears sandals on his feet. The figure represents Achajus, 'the fortunate contemporary and in alliance with Charlemagne, king of scots', as described in the Baker & Co. pamphlet that was published with the cards, see below. Achaius reigned as King of Scotland from c. 788AD and was a contemporary of Charlemagne. A large yellow diamond, sub-divided into four, at upper right. The diamond suit is here styled as a lozenge which references the Argyle pattern derived from Scottish Clan Campbell of Argyll. The card is untitled. From a pack of 52 playing cards which employs fanciful suits based on French and German models themed according to the countries of the United Kingdom: England (Acorns), Scotland (Diamonds), Wales (Spades) and Ireland (Hearts). The British Museum has a set of these cards (1848,1209.296-349) which includes an uncoloured title-card printed with the publisher's details as follows: 'Baker & Co's Eclectic Cards. For England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales. Sold Wholesale and Retail at their Manufactory, No. 2 King Arthur or New Card Court, York Street, Black Friar's Road, London. N.B. To be had of all Respectable Stationers in the United Kingdom'. This pack is also accompanied by a twelve-page printed pamphlet which gives, 'A short account of Baker and Co.'s Complete, Grand, Historical, Eclectic Cards, for England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, being a selection or an Eclectic Company of Twelve of the most eminent personages that ever distinguished themselves in those respective countries for Heroic Deeds, Wisdom, &c.', and which was printed by Theodore Page, Black Friar's Road in 1813.
Given by E. Evelyn Barron, 1940-02-06
Method of acquisition: Given (1940-02-06) by Barron, E. Evelyn
19th Century
Production date:
circa
AD 1813
Height 114mm x width 71mm
Hand colouring
Engraving
Etching
Accession number: P.2-1940(14)
Primary reference Number: 225085
Willshire (1876): English 183
Schreiber (playing cards): 1.102
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Paintings, Drawings and Prints
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "King of Diamonds (Achajus)" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/225085 Accessed: 2024-12-23 16:49:47
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/225085
|title=King of Diamonds (Achajus)
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-23 16:49:47|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:
https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-225085
Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...