Playing cards have been around for as long as history has been recorded. To the average consumer, a deck of cards is simply a deck of cards. To the true connoisseurs, however, a deck of playing cards tells a rich history merging cultures and artistic minds as well.
No one really knows when playing cards began to exist. Some people will tell you that it has been around since the 11th century. There are others that would say during the 13th century, and so on and so forth. We can never really tell when playing cards came to be, but what we do know is that they continue to improve.
Cards In Art And Culture
There are a few basic things we know of when it comes to playing cards. For one, a standard deck of cards includes a total of 52 cards. Some decks stay simple and retain a basic design both back and front. Regardless of the design, however, each deck of playing cards always looks and feels familiar to the regular person.
The most popular style of decks is called the French deck. The deck features 52 cards, four shapes, and two colors – black and white. Even in countries that have their own style of cards, the French deck remains to be very popular because it’s something that players have been used to for years now.
You’ve probably held a French deck in your hands already. While simple and popular, some collectors prefer cards that are out of the ordinary. The good news is that there’s an influx of creative cards nowadays. Whether you use them for playing or simply for display, these cards are a good find.
It used to be that people only got creative with the back portions of the card. Though small, the open space can be used for many purposes, such as a look into an entire race’s culture and history. It’s amazing to see what artists can do with the back face of playing cards nowadays.
Of course, they also try to incorporate their artistry on the front faces of cards as well. The thinking is that cards don’t have to stick with hearts, spades, clovers, and diamonds. Any shape or symbol can be used. What’s important is that there are distinctions between the cards, after all.
People are becoming more creative with cards. It’s not just the design of the front and back faces, it can also be with the material used for the cards themselves. Some even make playing cards out of metal or glass. Of course, these aren’t fit for playing, but they are perfect for displaying.
Playing cards are going to stay for a really long time. Even if more and more people now prefer playing online, nothing beats having a deck of cards waiting to be used inside your home. With more options and designs to choose from, it can be very exciting to pick the next set of cards you’re going to purchase.
