Whilst on a recent trip to the National Gallery in London, I picked up an impulse purchase in the shop – a deck of playing cards.
The cards are very nicely presented. The box is attractively illustrated and very sturdy. One thing that frustrates me with playing cards is just how easily most deck boxes tear over time. That isn’t going to be an issue with these cards. As well as being made from very thick cardboard, the box has a flip top and a striking yellow inner sleeve, so there is no risk of any wear to box or cards when removing the deck.
The cards themselves have a nice finish, and every card is uniquely illustrated with details from paintings in the gallery’s collection – everything from Kasper David Friedrich to Van Gogh. Some effort has clearly been made to match paintings to cards, as the Kings mostly have paintings of kings, the Queens have paintings of queens etc. Thought has also gone into the presentation of each picture, with pictoral elements breaking out of the circular frame to provide visual interest. There is also an unobtrusive text description of the painting and artist, which is a nice touch.
As a souvenir, and reminder of the paintings you have seen in the gallery, it is a quality and inexpensive product. As a deck with which to play solitaire or any other card game it is attractive, tactile, and even a little educational.
