Denomination:
Sicilian Tarot, hibrid transitional pattern.
Manufacturer:
Unknown, Sicily.
Type:
Latin suits; “Portuguese” type,
Sicilian variant; full figure.
Date/ Age:
XIX century (first half).
Technique:
Engraving print in black, not colored.
Number of cards:
12/63 (Clubs – King; Spades – King;
9 Trionfi – 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20).
Size:
290x230 mm.
Descriptive Notes:
The characters of the pattern in this example seem like
the hybrid between two known and established patterns
and can make us consider this as a transitional pattern;
Misery, for example, which doesn’t have any writing in
the cartouche on the top, has in his hand a container with
“INI” written on it like in the Early pattern, but is already
chained to a cubic boulder; the representation of Jupiter,
although already on a flying eagle, is still based on the old model,
as we can see from the presence of a feminine figure next to him;
the Kings are already without indices as for the Later pattern,
but this makes the absence of numbers on the Trionfi and of any
space to add them later very puzzling; the picture is very detailed
and the craftsmanship presents high artistic skills, certainly higher
than other known examples.
Collection:
Silvio Berardi heirs, Bologna.