British Museum Playing Cards

This unique pack of playing cards has been created for the British Museum.
Each suit reflects a different aspect of the
splendid collections of the Museum, and the illustrated court cards have been derived
from actual exhibits in the Egyptian, Greek, Assyrian and Medieval Departments.

Illustrations by Frances Button.

Even the PIP cards (number cards) have illustrations derived from artefacts.

©  Hearts = Ancient Greece:
King:   Zeus, King of all the Gods, taken from a deep cup showing an assembly of gods

§  Clubs = Ancient Egypt:
Queen:   Ankhnesenferibra, based on a sarcophagus lid found at Thebes.

ª  Spades = Assyrians:
Jack:   Assyrian Archer, taken from a lion hunt relief.

¨  Diamonds = Medieval:
Taken from chess men, carved from walrus ivory during the mid to late 12th century (Jack = Knight).