mikeh wrote:
Huck wrote,
That, what really counts, seems to be the "crowned dolphin" ... and this has two possible meanings. One connecting to king Louis XI and his time in Genappe 1456-61, the other to a rather unknown Conte Ludovico II Tizzone near Vercelli in Desana, possibly of some importance in the year 1512.
Why not also Charles VIII, who was Dauphin 1470-1484? And ex-Dauphin after that (after he was crowned), until his death in 1498? Or the wives of any of these, the Dauphines?
The general practical idea with the Dauphine and also with the Prince of Wales had been to give the future rulers of France and England some opportunity to train some of their later functions. This training was of use for the later Louis XI, but of no use for Charles VIII, who already became French king with 13 years (ruler with 21).
I don't know it for sure, but I would doubt, that Charles VIII spend much time in Dauphine ... in contrast to his father Louis, who really had reigning function in Dauphine till 1456.
I doubt, that Anne of France in her regency (1483-1491) left her brother Charles out of her control ... actually there were were early attempts of the outside to get the young king captured and cause a revolution, as far I remember (Mad War).
And Charles didn't show much talent for a ruler.
I personally would exclude this possibility.
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According the lists of Arnold Esch and his 107 Trionfi card notes between 1453-1465 we have, that there are at least 3 Flemish traders involved in the import of playing cards and Trionfi cards.
From the rest the most seem to be related to Florence.
Arnold Esch expresses his personal view, that the Flemish playing card traders in Rome might have imported Flemish Trionfi cards, which would lead according that, what we generally know from old documents, to a rather revolutionary thesis.
But it isn't impossible.
Burgundy is (1453-1465) at its height for European power and likely also trade with Italy. This big influence is lost with the year 1477 and the death of Charles the bold. The influence is passed to the heirs of Burgundy, France and Habsburg, both definitely strong factors in the following time in Italy.
We have connected to Burgundy the great Flemish playing card production in Tournay since 1427, which is running there till the begin of 16th century and then wanders to Antwerp. This is rather well documented, as it seems.
Also we have a great past of the region in the production of early woodcuts.
What we likely haven't, that are many examples of the Flemish produced decks in 15th century.
The Metropolian Museum of Art informs:
"The Cloisters set of fifty-two cards constitutes the only known complete deck of illuminated ordinary playing cards (as opposed to tarot cards) from the fifteenth century. There are four suits, each consisting of a king, a queen, a knave, and ten pip cards. The suit symbols, based on equipment associated with the hunt, are hunting horns, dog collars, hound tethers, and game nooses. The value of the pip cards is indicated by appropriate repetitions of the suit symbol. The figures, which appear to be based on Franco-Flemish models, were drawn with a bold, free, and engaging, if somewhat unrefined, hand. Their exaggerated and sometimes anachronistic costumes suggest a lampoon of extravagant Burgundian court fashions. Although some period card games are named, it is not known how they were played. Almost all card games did, however, involve some form of gambling. The condition of the set indicates that the cards were hardly used, if at all. It is possible that they were conceived as a collector's curiosity rather than as a deck for play."
http://trionfi.com/0/j/d/flemishhunting/
Object[edit]
The set of cards is a complete regular set of playing cards, consisting of four suits with a king, queen, jack and ten pip cards. The suits are based on hunting items, consisting of game nooses, hound tethers, horns, and dog collars. It is the only complete set of ordinary playing cards from the fifteenth century.[1] The shown figures display fashion of the era, with short jackets, shortly cut hair and pointy shoes.[2]
The set was most likely made in the Southern Netherlands and Flanders specifically. The set was most likely manufactured between 1470 and 1480. Research on the paper determined that it was made in or before 1450.[2] The first of the two present watermarks originates in France and eastern Flanders and was used between circa 1464 and 1480. The second watermark was used in southern Flanders and the northern Lowlands between circa 1468 and 1479.[3]
The cards are in very good condition, indicating they were used very little or not at all.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Hunting_Deck
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The Ambras Hunting deck (c. 1440), the Stuttgarter Jagdspiel (1427-31), the above shown Burgundy Hunting game, the Goldschmidt-Falconer, the Guildhall-Falconer, the falconer in the cards with the Isabella d'Este motto, "Jeger" and "Valkner" also in the Hofämterspiel (1455), birds as suits in the Michelino deck.
The "Hunting-Theme" for expensive cards for nobility circles had been likely similar popular as the Trionfi-theme, perhaüps it's just a matter of lucky accident, that we know some more extant cards in the Trionfi style than we know from the Hunting style.
As far hunting with hawks is considered, Burgundy had a natural first rank (a local hawking tradition), which influenced others. Hawks were exported from Burgundy (Galeazzo got some of them), possibly also playing cards with hunting theme developed here first. The many playing cards at the court of Wencelas (1379-83), half-brother of emperor Charles IV, are the first nobility playing cards we know of. He reigned in the region of Brabant, later part of Burgundy.
This tradition looks not so strong in this report ...
https://books.google.de/books?id=H7VFJA ... dy&f=false
In Klaus Schelle, "Die Sforza" I read, that a Milanese delegation (10 diplomats, 36 servants, at 13th June 1469) searched for a political alliance and and beside that, some hawks.
I remember, that Galeazzo Maria on visit in Florence 1470 had a rather high number of falcons and falconers.
It's reported, that Louis XI in his time in Genappe/Belgium/Burgundy most of his time spend with hunting. Also later as king he was very fond of hunting.
It's said, that English King Edward III (mid 14th century) brought 30 gyrfalcons to his fights on the continent. Then it's said, that the Vikings had gyrfalcons (likely earlier) and I read, that free-living gyrfalcons are mostly in far Northern regions. I read, that the Osman leader Bayezid (around 1400) preferred 6 pairs of gyrfalcons instead a very high sum of money (200.000 ducats or so) as a ransom for a captured Burgundy prince after the lost battle of Nicopolis.
Then, it seems, Burgundy had gyrfalcons. It's said, that white gyrfalcons were preferred and served as presents between kings and princes. Dschingis Khan received gyrfalcons as tributary payment of other clans.
Well, a complex theme.