A SET OF POLYCHROME-PAINTED LACQUERED ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY (120) DASHAVATARA GANJIFA PLAYING CARDS WITH LIDDED BOX
Possibly Maharashtra or Malwa, Central India, late 19th century

Comprising 120 polychrome-painted and lacquered ten-suited playing cards (ganjifa), each of rounded shape, each suit representing a different form (avatara) of the Hindu god Vishnu, including Matsya (the Fish), Kurma (the Tortoise), Varaha (the Boar), Narasimha (the Man-Lion), Vamana (the Dwarf), Parashurama (Rama with Axe), Rama (Rama with Bow), Krishna, the Buddha, and Kalki (the Last Avatar usually on horseback), each card repeating the main suit symbol attributed to that specific avatar according to the card number, each symbol or figure set against a black, green, red, or ochre yellow ground, with concentric polychrome rules on the outer borders, all cards contained in a square wooden box painted in polychromes, with stylised figures in profile, seated, possibly representing devotees or players, the set accompanied by an old handwritten note in sepia ink in English describing the lot as "Ten Packs of Hindoo Playing Cards", the owner unable to confirm the rules of the game and the suits characterstics.

Each token 6.5cm diameter

The box 8.5cm x 9.5cm x 9cm

Similarly to the previous lot, this set of Indian ganjifa playing cards comes with its own original box. But the set differs from the previous one for its type. Indeed, the present lot is not an eight-suited Mughal Ganjifa set but rather a ten-suited Dashavatara Ganjifa set, in which each suit represents one of Vishnu's avatars. This type of playing cards became very prominent in the post-Mughal era, from 1850s onwards, almost replacing the previous type of ganjifa sets.