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Jack of Diamonds (Merlin): P.2-1940(16)

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Jack of Diamonds (Merlin)
Baker and Co's Eclectic Cards

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown
Publisher: Baker & Co

Entities

Categories

Description

A hand-coloured etching and engraving on pasteboard of a druidic-type figure with a long white beard, dressed in a long brown robe with a hood and wearing sandals on his feet. The figure holds a long white staff in his left hand and a golden ball in his right. A mountainous landscape with a path through crags is seen in the background. The figure represents Merlin, 'the magic prophet, cabinet counsellor to Vortigern, Aurelius Ambrosius, Uter Pendragon, father to King Arthur, and King Arthur who was his pupil, knight of Scotland', as described in the Baker & Co. pamphlet that was published with the cards, see below. 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.

Legal notes

Given by E. Evelyn Barron, 1940-02-06

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1940-02-06) by Barron, E. Evelyn

Dating

19th Century
Production date: circa AD 1813

Note

Height 114mm x width 71mm

School or Style

English

Techniques used in production

Hand colouring
Engraving
Etching

Identification numbers

Accession number: P.2-1940(16)
Primary reference Number: 225087
Willshire (1876): English 183
Schreiber (playing cards): 1.102
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Wednesday 5 September 2018 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Jack of Diamonds (Merlin)" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/225087 Accessed: 2024-12-24 02:43:16

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/225087 |title=Jack of Diamonds (Merlin) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-24 02:43:16|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-225087

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