Queen of Swords (Elfrida) Baker and Co's Eclectic Cards
Printmaker:
Unknown
Publisher:
Baker & Co
A hand-coloured etching and engraving on pasteboard of a Queen standing in a mountainous landscape. She wears a long, high-waisted white dress with gold sash, a small golden crown and sandals on her feet. She holds a sceptre in her left hand and a sprig of mistletoe in her right hand. The figure represented is Elfrida, 'the beautiful queen of Mona and of the mountains', as described in the Baker & Co. pamphlet that was published with the cards, see below. The pip, a Spata, or type of sword used by the Ancient Britons, is located at upper right. The card is untitled. From a pack of 52 playing cards which employs fanciful suits based on French and German models themed according to the countries of the United Kingdom: England (Acorns), Scotland (Diamonds), Wales (Spades) and Ireland (Hearts). The British Museum has a set of these cards (1848,1209.296-349) which includes an uncoloured title-card printed with the publisher's details as follows: 'Baker & Co's Eclectic Cards. For England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales. Sold Wholesale and Retail at their Manufactory, No. 2 King Arthur or New Card Court, York Street, Black Friar's Road, London. N.B. To be had of all Respectable Stationers in the United Kingdom'. This pack is also accompanied by a twelve-page printed pamphlet which gives, 'A short account of Baker and Co.'s Complete, Grand, Historical, Eclectic Cards, for England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, being a selection or an Eclectic Company of Twelve of the most eminent personages that ever distinguished themselves in those respective countries for Heroic Deeds, Wisdom, &c.', and which was printed by Theodore Page, Black Friar's Road in 1813. The pip, a Spata, or type of sword used by the Ancient Britons, is located at upper right. The card is untitled. From a pack of 52 playing cards which employs fanciful suits based on French and German models and themed according to the countries of the United Kingdom: England (Acorns), Scotland (Diamonds), Wales (Spades) and Ireland (Hearts). The place of manufacture is most likely England, although the company, 'B & Co' has not been traced.
Given by E. Evelyn Barron, 1940-02-06
Method of acquisition: Given (1940-02-06) by Barron, E. Evelyn
19th Century
Production date:
circa
AD 1813
Height 114mm x width 71mm
Hand colouring
Engraving
Etching
Accession number: P.2-1940(41)
Primary reference Number: 225112
Willshire (1876): English 183
Schreiber (playing cards): 1.102
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Paintings, Drawings and Prints
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Queen of Swords (Elfrida)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/225112 Accessed: 2024-12-23 12:46:05
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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/225112
|title=Queen of Swords (Elfrida)
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-23 12:46:05|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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