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Cologne Tarot Project - July 2007
We've started a German language edition of the theme "Köln Tarot", a work in progress. Cologne had three surviving decks in 16th century, one of them a socalled Mantegna Tarocchi from the artist Johann Ladenspelder and
the two others present a strange parrots-hares-flowers system, so anyway "unusual decks", especially as the deck of Master P.W. has round cards. Nonetheless it's interesting : the Master P.W deck from ca. 1500-1504 is the only surviving deck from 15th/16th century with a 5x14-structure, and for
special reasons in our basic theory (5x14-theory) we assume, that the early Trionfi cards (later called Tarot cards) developed from a deck which used a 5x14 structure.
A second point of interest is the presence of a cardmaker Giovanni di Colonia (aka "Johannes von Köln") in Bologna in the year 1427. He's after an earlier mentioned Federico of Germany in 1395 (also in Bologna), who sold 'cartas figuratas et pictas ad imagines et figuras sanctorum' the first noted
German cardmaker in Italy.
Our general research did lead to evaluate a specific document of July 1442, which knows two possible interpretations.
One assumes, that the Trionfi deck, that the two boys got, was produced by the Ferrarese artist Sagramoro, but sold by a Bolognese merchant Burdochi, and the second interpretation states alternatively, that the Bolognese merchant Burdochi sold Trionfi decks made in Bologna ... which implies to assume a living Trionfi card production in Bologna by Bolognese card makers in this time.
But looking for these postulated Bolognese Trionfi cardmakers leads to a specific situation of a battle
with feasts in 1427, in which finally 4 card producers are involved: Giovanni di Colonia (a card maker), and his son, also Giovanni (probably also a cardmaker and in this case victim of the occurrence), Zohane (which also means Giovanni) of Bologna, the beating
cardmaker, and Niccolo da Fabriano, who tries to restore peace between the combatants (possibly a cardmaker, or alternatively a paper
producer or possibly both).
A second entry, which involves Bologna and a Trionfi deck, knows another German cardmaker,
which had produced or owned a deck, that was stolen, in 1459. He's in our research the first German, who - with evidence - definitely knew Trionfi decks and probably produced them - although I see much reason to assume, that Emperor Fredrick (and his many knights, which accompanied him) at the occasion of his marriage in Italy (1452) learnt about this deck-type, too, and there are signs, that a deck produced in Siena the same year was made to celebrate the first meeting of the emperor and the bride. A column of triumph was erected at this occasion. Likely one should see a famous German deck, the Hofämterspiel, which is assumed to have been made for the young King Ladislaus (of Hungary and Bohemia) ca. 1455, was produced as a "Trionfi deck in German style", just imitating the fresh born Italian custom. Ladislaus had accompanied Emperor Fredrick to Italy in 1452, the Italian influence on him was very concrete.
The marriage of Barbara of Brandenburg in Mantova 1436, likely arranged by Emperor Sigismondo during his Italy visit 1431-1433 (a time, from which we don't have evidence, that the term "trionfi decks" existed), was accompanied by the new appearance of a card printing press in Mantova. Actually the context gives the impression, that this press was an import from Germany - Barbara's father had the fame to have been an alchemist, and likely such a name indicates, that he was very interested in new technological developments.
Judging from that few notes, that playing card research knows
about early Italian and Bolognese card history, we've to assume, that German cardmakers were an important factor there. From all the documented later advances in printing technology in 15th century in Italy we know, that Germans played a major role.
Following the argument, that Marchione Burdochi in 1442 imported Trionfi cards from Bologna, would possibly mean, that he imported from Bologna something, that German cardmakers before brought to Italy.
The question, if there was a relationship between the game Karnöffel and Tarot was discussed earlier, for instance already by
Michael Dummett. Actually it's one of the possibilities for the origin of Tarot, that the German
Karnöffel game
inspired the Italian Trionfi card development (perhaps by first influencing the
Italian Imperatori decks),
an action, which finally ended with a totally different result to that, what became the later Karnöffel game.
According to my personal judgment: I see many reasons to favor this possibility.
(autorbis)
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