Ten of Swords 1751

This is Claude Burdel's 'Ten of Swords', a playing card made in Switzerland sometime in the 18th century. Burdel was a member of a family of cardmakers in Bern, where he made traditional cards for the popular Swiss suited deck. The 'Ten of Swords' is not like the usual full figured tarot cards. It consists of ten swords arranged around a lozenge-shaped pattern. The swords, rendered in simple lines and colors, are emblems of conflict and strife, piercing the air around a woven center. Given that the production of playing cards in the 18th century was heavily regulated and controlled by guilds, this particular design reflects the social order of the period. This card could represent the exhaustion and defeat that many people, especially those on the margins, experienced in that era. Although this card traditionally signifies endings, perhaps it also represents the possibility of transformation and change. Consider how historical forces of control and personal narratives of struggle come together in the creation and interpretation of this seemingly simple playing card.