Set of seven lacquered papier-mâché Ganjifa playing cards, India, 19th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
This set comprises seven individual circular playing cards, crafted from lacquered papier-mâché. These pieces originate from a Dashavatara Ganjifa deck, a traditional form of Indian card game with roots in Persia.
Each card features fine, detailed hand-painted illustrations in vibrant colours, depicting various avatars of the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu. Identified figures include Rama, Varaha, and Garuda, the divine vehicle of Vishnu. The cards are uniform in their circular geometry, measuring approximately 7.7 cm in diameter. The artistic style suggests a production origin in Southern India. Ganjifa cards typically represented elaborate mythological or courtly themes and were widely popularized in India during the Mughal Empire.
These items serve as a historical example of decorative gaming ephemera, characterized by their round form and traditional artisanal techniques involving layered paper and lacquer finish.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Diameter
- 7.7 cm
- Material
- lacquered papier-mâché
Design
- Motifs
- avatars of Lord Vishnu including Rama, Varaha, and Garuda
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.