About this item
- ead reviews of the Tarot Mucha
Specifications
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Name
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Tarot Mucha
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Creators
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Lunaea Weatherstone,
Massimiliano Filadoro,
Giulia F. Massaglia
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Publisher
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Lo Scarabeo 2014
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Deck Type
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Tarot Deck
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Cards
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78
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Major Arcana
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22
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Minor Arcana
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56
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Court Cards
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Knave, Knight, Queen, King
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Card Size
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2.80 x 4.72 in. = 7.10cm x 12.00cm
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Card Language
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None
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Card Back
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Non-reversible
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Back Design
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Art nouveau style illustration of a women holding flowers and fruit.
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Companion Material
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128-page bound, full-colour companion book in English, Italian, Spanish, French, German and Russian. The English section is written by Lunaea Weatherstone.
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Reviews
Mucha produced hundreds of his highly stylised, idiosyncratic works during the course of his career so there is a treasure trove of images for artists Giulia Massaglia and Barbara Nosenzo to use in creating the Tarot Mucha. Rather than simply renaming unmodified copies of Mucha's works, Massaglia and Nosenzo have taken many of his most well-known images and adjusted them to the Rider Waite Smith framework. Mucha's flowing, ornate style has been faithfully adapted to these expanded images, and his tasteful pallette beautifully maintained.
Familiar here are the women from his multitude of collections - Moon and Stars, Seasons, Flowers, and many advertisements. There are also many original tarot images created in the style of Mucha. Fittingly Sarah Berhardt, whose commissions of theatre posters catapulted Mucha into artistic fame, appears as The Magician, and Mucha himself appears as the driver of The Chariot.
The Tarot Mucha is a fully illustrated 78 card deck with 22 Major Arcana, and 56 Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana adheres to the Rider-Waite-Smith standard with no variations, and the Minor Arcana is comprised of the following suits; Cups, Discs, Staves, and Swords. The Court Cards are ordered as Page, Knight, Queen, King.
The cards measure 70 x120mm - which is a fairly standard size for tarot cards. The cards are smooth, glossy, and quite slippery, but shuffle well. The card stock is high quality and well finished. The print is clear, the colours are elegant, restrained, and subtle. Each image has an ornate Art Nouveau frame which varies between Major Arcana and each suit in both elemental colours and seasonal flowers. The Major Arcana has no titles just a number at the top and bottom of each card. The Minor Arcana cards have a number at the top, and the Courts are denoted by symbols; a helmet for a Page, a horse for a Knight, and crowns for Queen and King.
The elaborate image on the back of the cards is not reversible.
The cards and guidebook come in a small solid cardboard box with a lift-off lid. The box has a satiny smooth finish and is printed with images from the cards within. This is a compact little set that will slip easily into a shoulder bag or back pack and travel well.
The 128 page guidebook has instructions in six languages; English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, and Polish. Written by Lunaea Weatherstone this guidebook is exceptionally clear and unambiguous. Each card has a thorough description that explains both the symbols, and the emotional and intellectual intent of the people depicted. The divinatory meanings are presented as Key Ideas, and are standard interpretations for upright cards only.
Three basic four-card spreads are provided – The Seasons, The Flowers, and the Four Act Reading.
The Tarot Mucha is a beautiful interpretation of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. Its sinuous artwork is consistent and its colours are rich and restful. If you are a fan of Alphonse Mucha's art or Art Nouveau in general then you will want to add this deck to your collection. If you are looking for a variation on the Rider-Waite-Smith deck that maintains it's integrity and maturity then the Tarot Mucha certainly fulfils these requirements.
Overall this is a beautiful and highly functional deck that beginners as well as experienced tarot readers can use with ease.
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