Golden Tarot of the Tsar

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Sep 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kyrielle	04 Sep 2002
This is a new deck from Lo Scarabeo that features artwork in the style of Byzantine icons. Every card has lots of gold foil. It would be a lovely deck for candlelight, but I'd actually caution against using it in bright sunlight! The art is really good, and very Christian -- not for those uncomfortable with Biblical imagery. The LWB explains the scenes but does not include the Celtic Cross, replacing it with a more appropriate but kind of complicated arrangement called the Orthodox Cross. I think it is more of a meditation or art deck than a divination deck, though. Check this deck out if you are so inclined. -- Kyrielle

Phoenix	04 Sep 2002
Great. Another deck to add to my ever so long wish list. Sigh. I am hopeless.

Violet Gargoyle	04 Sep 2002
I thought that this would be a neat deck to have to compare to either the St Petersburg Tarot or Robert Place's Tarot of the Saints....

Cerulean	05 Sep 2002
Just my take, but the art reminded me of Byzantine church icons...a glimpse of the old church in the movie "Greek Wedding" shows the saints done in that style. I felt more like seeing the differences in the lacquer art of the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg with this deck. I do love the lacy scrollwork in the gilded background and how the minors had beautiful inserts. All the suits have not only Marseille-style pip decorations in gilding, they have scenic inserts that can be compared to Biblical manuscript scenes. I believe it follows art icons more familiar to Eastern Orthadox church art from the one or two books I've checked out. Each suit has a different shaped insert and the descriptions in the little white booklet is nicely done. Courts and majors are done well too, it's just the minors are quite outstanding in my mind. Hope you have great fun with this deck, Mari H.

catlin	05 Sep 2002
I am looking forward to adding this beauty in my collection. I had the chance to see all cards in the book shop and it is really gorgeous!

The Golden Tarot of the Tsar thread was originally posted on 04 Sep 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.