Playing Cards

Deck of playing cards.

We have several decks, including an artists-edition which can never be used. There’s something comforting about the idea of sitting around the table playing cards, instead of sitting around the table staring into the box. But it tends to remain an idea. The box always wins.

Playing Cards

Paris cards 1865 pattern

From the World Of Playing Cards: http://www.wopc.co.uk/

In  Parisian court card games. (~16th C)  Judith was the name for the Queen of Hearts, Pallas for the Queen of Spades, Rachel for the Queen of Diamonds and Argine for the Queen of Clubs. Argine may be an anagram for Regina, or possibly refers to Argia, one of the Oceanids – a character in Greek mythology. The Oceanids were the three thousand daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. Argia was a nymph of the Asian region. But lest that seem adequate arcane information, there were  also three other Argias. You’ll have to go to Wikipedia and look them up.

Three thousand daughters. And only one gets her name on a court card.

Playing Cards

Status: Find out more about Argia. I may have just found a title for the Sea Monster. Or at least a middle name.

Kill-ratio: 18:3: / 6:1

Alt-title: Untitled Object No. 262 For Keeping Your Hands Busy.

Alt-title credits etc here.