Golden Tarot of the Renaissance: Estensi Tarot (English and Spanish Edition) [Cards]

Lo Scarabeo (Author), Jo Dworkin (Drawings), Giordano Berti (Collaborator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 8, 2004

Once known as the Charles VI or Gringonneur Tarot, this historic masterpiece has been restored, completed, and renamed to reflect its true history.  This late 15th century deck was made in Ferrara for the Estes family. The Minor Arcana, added by Dworkin, were inspired by frescos in Schifanoia Palazzo, owned by the Estes family. These images are alive with movement and wit and are highlighted with gold foil.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Since 1987, Art Publisher Lo Scarabeo has published over 100 Tarot decks that have been acclaimed all over the world for originality and quality. Only the best Italian and International artists are selected for our new decks, and the result is that Lo Scarabeo's decks are all recognizable as an exceptional artistic value.

Tradition
One of Lo Scarabeo's goals is the preservation of traditional Tarot decks.

Development
New decks and ideas are continually gathered from all over the world. This allows Lo Scarabeo to produce some of the most innovative decks available today.

Quality
Lo Scarabeo is committed to ever increasing quality and beauty of their products.

Distribution
*Llewellyn is the exclusive distributor of Lo Scarabeo products in North America.

Product Details

• Cards: 78 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (August 8, 2004)
• Language: English, Spanish
• ISBN-10: 073870461X
• ISBN-13: 978-0738704616
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 2.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #793,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Put it Down!, November 4, 2004

By 

Daisy (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golden Tarot of the Renaissance: Estensi Tarot (English and Spanish Edition) (Cards)

I must say when I first heard about this deck I was unsure as to whether or not to buy it. I'd already been through disappointments with decks based on early tarot. My usual complaint is that the numbered cards are generally not illustrated. When I opened it, however, I found that even the numbered cards were illustrated in gorgeous detail. This deck is based on the "Charles the VI" deck (actually an Italian deck, believed to have been created for the Visconti-Sforza families of the Renaissance). The original deck is one of the few tangible keys we have to tarot's obscure early history, and among the oldest surviving examples of tarot cards, dating from the 1400's. Sadly, only 17 cards remain in the original deck. The artist has filled in the gaps using inspiration from Italian frescos of the same time period. The gold stamping on each card mimics the gold leaf background on the original 17. That said, however, this glistening, ornate little deck is not easy to read with, and I wouldn't recommend it to beginning students. It should be kept in mind that during this time period in Italy, tarot was "played" as a parlor game, or a game of "trumps," so in general the cards are lacking the esoteric symbolism that is found in more modern decks. However, it is an absolutely beautiful deck that is excellent for collectors and those who are fascinated by tarot's early roots.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A really beautiful Tarot!, November 3, 2004

By 

Dionysius S. Badarian (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golden Tarot of the Renaissance: Estensi Tarot (English and Spanish Edition) (Cards)

This is one of the metallic stamped series from the prolific Italian publisher Lo Scarabeo, and true to form, they have done a lovely job. Each card glitters with gold foil highlights or backgrounds, creating a wonderful effect. The deck is based on the now incomplete Tarots of (supposedly) Charles VI of France, and a number of cards had to be artistically recreated. In this recreation, a great job has been done, and a valuable service performed. If you wish to read Tarot with a fully-illustrated early Renaissance-styled deck, you cannot do better than this. The deck is both useful and gorgeous. I liked it so much that after getting one for myself, I bought several others for friends!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars comment on the "graphic" illustrations, May 25, 2006

By 

tarot student (Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golden Tarot of the Renaissance: Estensi Tarot (English and Spanish Edition) (Cards)

As a comment to the previous review I have to say that the "graphic" nature of the illustrations are only a reflection of the style of art at that time ( medieval and renaissance). If you look it up the medieval and renaissance painters frequently depicted blood and sexual content that we aren't use to today. The illustrations are taken from original artwork !This is a wonderfull deck !!