Transformation #2: J.G.Cotta

Transformation #2: J.G. Cotta, Tübingen

Maker:

Country:

Artist:

Year:

Type:

Suit:

Pattern:

My ref:

The Fournier Museum, Alava

Spain

Countess Jenison-Walworth

1806 (2004 reprint)

52 cards

French

Transformation

#13

The design is attributed to a Countess von Jenison-Walworth. Some accounts say Charlotte. The mother of Count Franz II von Jenison-Walworth, from Heidleburg, (1764-1821) was Charlotte (Lady C. Smith) but she died in 1803. Franz's first wife was also Charlotte von Cornet (b. 1766) and she may be the designer but I don't think she was.

I believe the illustrator was the second wife of Count Franz II von Jenison-Walworth, Mary Day Beauclerc, an Englishwoman.

They were married in 1797 in Heidleberg and she lived in Germany at the time the cards were published in 1805. Mary's mother was a well known artist in England with an artistic style not dissimilar to that on the cards and I have found reference to Mary being an artist also.

Mary led a very interesting and extremely colourful life so if you are interested, more information on the Countess Mary Day Jenison-Walworth can be found here...

The eight of diamonds

See here for more playing cards from my collection designed by the Countess, and dated 1805.

The court cards feature persons from Greek, Roman and biblical roots. Some are mythical and some historical.

Diamonds:

Agammemnon - from Greek mythology

Orestes - son of Agammemnon

Agrippa -Roman emperor Nero's mother, sister of Caligula

Hearts:

Ulysses- from Greek mythology

Iphigenie - daughter of Agammemnon

Mardochie - could be Mordecai from the bible

Clubs:

Pirrhus - King of Epiros in Greece

Ester - from the Bible

Arcas -son of Zeus of Greek mythology

Spades:

Alssuerus - from the Bible

Andromaque - wife of Hector of Greek mythology

Burrhus - a Roman general under Claudius and Nero.

A personal favourite - the witch on a broom stick!

This is the second of six sets of transformation cards produced by the company J. G. Cotta in Türbingen, between 1805 and 1811. For more information refer here and here…

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