Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Upper Knave of Parrots, from The Round Playing Cards of Master PW of Cologne
Master PW of Cologne German
Not on view
The Round Playing Cards of Master PW of Cologne
Around 1500, a Cologne engraver known only as the Master PW created a pack of round cards with the suits of Pinks, Columbines, Roses, Parrots, and Hares, with each suit comprising a king, queen, upper knave, under knave, and pip cards from 10 through 1, for a total of seventy-two cards. These small and finely engraved works were published with a title and a colophon suggesting that they were intended as a series of fine prints to be admired rather than as playing cards. None are known to have been mounted as cards.
Suits: Pinks, Roses, Columbines, Rabbits, and Parrots
14 cards in each suit: King, Queen, Upper Knave, Under Knave, 10 through 1 plus one card with an inscription honoring Cologne and another with the image of Death
72 cards, of which 72 survive
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