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Lot Essay
The first mention of this card game called Ganjifa is in the Chronicles of Babur in the 16th century. Other authors such as Ahli Shirazi in Rub'ayat-i Ganjifa (circa 1514-15) and Abu al-Fazl in 'Ayn-i Akbari also mention the game in details. The Mughal Ganjifa contains eight suits, each of 12 cards for a complete pack of 96 cards. Barat (or Document), as inscribed in Persian on the present card, is one of the eight suits. The cards were very often illustrated, in a style that would follow the local school of painting. However it seems that a certain conservatism in the styles of Ganjifa painting has made them difficult to date precisely. Although often made of papier-mache and cardboard, the best examples were made of ivory and tortoiseshell, such as the present piece.
This card is probably a 'Mir' or King of 'Barat'. In the 'Ayn-i Akbari, Abu al-Fazl described how Abkar's set of cards, through the eight suits, would depict the activity of each of his administrative departments. For a discussion on Mughal Ganjifa, see Rudolf Van Leyden, The Arts of Playing Cards, in Facets of Indian Art, London, 1982, pp.256-259.
For a complete set of Ganjifa cards, see lot 215 in this sale.
This card is probably a 'Mir' or King of 'Barat'. In the 'Ayn-i Akbari, Abu al-Fazl described how Abkar's set of cards, through the eight suits, would depict the activity of each of his administrative departments. For a discussion on Mughal Ganjifa, see Rudolf Van Leyden, The Arts of Playing Cards, in Facets of Indian Art, London, 1982, pp.256-259.
For a complete set of Ganjifa cards, see lot 215 in this sale.