Seven of Diamonds, from a Set of Piquet Cards 1770 - 1826

This playing card, Seven of Diamonds, was created by Claude Fayolle in the 18th century using humble materials: paper and pigment. It may seem simple, but let's consider the labor involved. The paper itself would have been handmade, pulped from rags and formed sheet by sheet. The pigment, likely earth-based, would have been carefully mixed with a binder. Look closely, and you can see the slight irregularities of the hand-painted red diamonds and the laid paper. The artisan-led process stands in stark contrast to our contemporary mass-produced playing cards. Such details speak to a time before industrialization fully took hold. Even an everyday object like a playing card held the imprint of individual skill and attention. Today, we often overlook the making of such things, but here, the inherent qualities of the materials and the hand-made techniques give this card its special character. By appreciating the artistry, we gain insight into the cultural and social values of its time, blurring the lines between craft and fine art.