Teheuti
K. Frank Jensen arranged for the sale of the original 1887 Oswald Wirth deck used in the film. I posted his account of all this on my blog - url on my profile page. Plus a selection of b&w Wirth images from Yale.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Kreative-Dragon
The Oswald Wirth connection seems to be set up in the first film. At one point as Holmes is looking through the book which gives Lord Blackwood (now there's a name to conjure with) his power, the image on the left is given a nice full frame close-up;
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/476/001vuc.jpg
It's a variant on the 'Sigil of Baphomet' from the 1897 book 'La Clef de la Magie Noire', by French nobleman and occultist Stanislas de Guaita. The interesting thing about this design is that it was the inspiration for the Oswald Wirth Baphomet design created in 1930 which is shown on the right. Even more interesting is that Wirth was de Guaita’s secretary and assistant, and may even have created the original engraving.
Also in the first film, Holmes gives us a Crowleyesque 'Hanged Man' while Blackwood opts for a more traditional interpretation;
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2897/002stv.jpg
There's also the fact that Oswald Wirth's card 15 - Le Diable, follows Eliphas Levi's Baphomet, and has on the right arm the word “solve” while on the left arm is the word “coagula.” This of course forms one of the dictums of Alchemy, and in Latin: 'Solve et Coagula' is 'Separate, and join together' (or 'dissolve and coagulate').
To me, this isn't a million miles away from Holmes' famous axiom; "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
Given Conan-Doyle's lifelong fascination for all things magical, mystical and spiritual, I can't help but wonder if there are more layers to the Sherlock Holmes stories than first meets the (private) eyes.
There's a course at the University about all of Sherlocks books, and their "layers" I might need to take it after this.
Teheuti, thank you so much for the Info. I might need to see if I can find a re make of this deck somewhere.
willoe
There's a course at the University about all of Sherlocks books, and their "layers" I might need to take it after this.
Teheuti, thank you so much for the Info. I might need to see if I can find a re make of this deck somewhere.
I'm jealous! I wish any of the universities around here had anything close to a course about the layers in SH.
Teheuti
There isn't one of the 1889 deck. There is a rather rare self-published version of the later Art Nouveau version that Wirth did, and there are quite a few Wirth-like decks that have been produced. BTW, Wirth only did the Majors.I might need to see if I can find a re make of this deck somewhere.
One of the nicer modern versions is the "Universal Wirth" by Stefano Palumbo for Lo Scarabeo, with the Minors based on Eudes Picard. But the artist wasn't really aware of the subtle symbolism that Wirth used, and so, instead of a flower bud in the Magician, he has an over-blown bloom (it's really silly to try and be 'creative' with things like this).
Carol Herzer's "Radical Wirth" is really nice if you like her imaginative coloring.
Search for "Oswald Wirth's Tarot Spread" on my blog to see these - two images can be found in the comments.
The crowned one
Teheuti, I read that blog, great stuff! I wonder what happened to the deck? I would pay what they paid. It is 2 or so of a kind!
Teheuti
I read somewhere that 350 were made. I know of a third copy that was painted and signed by Wirth. I believe the one in the movie was also hand-painted by Wirth.Teheuti, I read that blog, great stuff! I wonder what happened to the deck? I would pay what they paid. It is 2 or so of a kind!
The crowned one
I read somewhere that 350 were made. I know of a third copy that was painted and signed by Wirth. I believe the one in the movie was also hand-painted by Wirth.
Good to know. Thank-you.
