Master of the Bandalore

Last time, when I visited a distant library, I found in a huge dictionary about early graphical art some playing cards, which I didn't know from other sources. I did take some copies, but did forget to take the name of the source. Next time, when I come there, I'll take the reference. The source is very short about the artist, but offers a huge lot of his productions. Playing cards play only a minor role in his work. "The Master of the Banderoles lived in the east of the Netherlands between Zwolle and Bocholt ca. 1450 - 1500." That's all. A series of 8 cups cards 2 - 9 (so Italian suits in the Netherlands !) is given, an example is  below. The funny "small men" appear at all cards. Each card measures 10x6.8 cm.

3 further cards are given in the dictionary, noted are some more as known. Interestingly each of the noted cards (12 totally) has different measures, so one has to conclude,  that the Master of the Banerole at least produced 13 different types of decks. Given are: Hart Ace,  8.8 x 6.5 cm Hart Knave, 11.1 x 6.7 cm Arms King,  12, 1 x 10.4 cm (with French shield)

In the other engravings of the Master of the Bandelore are other  productions which might "not-identified" playing cards or relate to playing card productions. I copied one picture of Jesus out of three plates about the "three days of creation". The birds in the background look as if taken from playing cards. The Master of Bandelore also engaged in Letter painting, the material might be interesting regarding the work of Mark Filipas. Mark Filipas compares alphabetic art with Tarot de Marseilles design.