A SET OF POLYCHROME-PAINTED AND LACQUERED NINETY-SIX GANJIFA PLAYING CARDS WITH LIDDED BOX
Possibly Maharashtra, Central - Western India, late 19th century

A SET OF POLYCHROME-PAINTED AND LACQUERED NINETY-SIX GANJIFA PLAYING CARDS WITH LIDDED BOX
Possibly Maharashtra, Central - Western India, late 19th century

Comprising ninety-six polychrome-painted, gilt and lacquered playing cards (ganjifa), each of rounded shape, illustrated with a variety of Indian subjects including seated Maharajas and Maharanis on caparisoned thrones, banqueting scenes and large celebrations, animals like elephants, horses and tigers, dancers and attendants, set against alternating red, yellow, green and blue grounds, the reverse with a chequered grid with clusters of red dots filling the squares, each token 4.8cm diam.; and a rectangular box with sliding lid, polychrome-painted, heightened with gold and lacquered, featuring a sumptuous courtly procession around all the sides with horses, an elephant and a camel, and a courtly interior scene with a crowned princess or queen standing in a white pavilion, standing in front of a male subject, the outer borders and edges of the box gilt and decorated with dotted floral clusters on bright red ground, 8.5cm x 18cm x 7.5cm.

This type of hand-painted playing cards (ganjifa) is commonly in use in various South Asian territories like India, Pakistan, as well as Iran and Turkey. The game first reached India from Iran in the early 16th century. At the time, the eight-suited Mughal ganjifa pack became widespread. It was then later replaced by the Dashavatara ganjifa set, in which each suit represents one of Vishnu's avatars. A complete example of ganjifa pack can be seen in the Ashmolean Museum Collection, Oxford (inv. no. EAX.2078). Recently, another similar example of ganjifa set sold successfully in these Rooms (28 April 2023, lot 346).

(Quantity:2)