A SET OF EIGHT GANJIFA PLAYING CARDS
Possibly Maharashtra, Central - Western India, first half 20th century

Comprising eight circular polychrome-painted and lacquered paper playing cards (ganjifa), three illustrated with the Goddess Sarasvati, one with the Goddess Lakshmi, the remaining with a variety of subjects, the plain back painted in red, mounted on a Plexiglass panel, 38cm high the panel, 7.5cm diam. each card.

This type of playing cards (ganjifa) are used in India, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, and are usually hand-painted. 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).