About this item
- Also known as Camoin Jodorowsky, 1997
Specifications
Name
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Tarot de Marseille (Camoin-Jodorowsky)
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Alternate Names
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Camoin Jodorowsky, 1997
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Publisher
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Camoin
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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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Reviews
the appellation Tarot of Marseilles. Many, of course,
are not published nor printed in Marseilles, but
follow the designs commonly associated with this southern
French maritime city.
The creators of this deck, one of
whom is a descendent of Conver family, utilised and
compared various versions of this style of deck, and sought
to re-create it to its original splendour. It is
obvious that they were principally, but not solely,
influenced by the early (1761) Nicholas Conver deck. This
latter deck, incidentally, is still available as a
reprint from three publishers: as a limited edition
cardboard collector's deck from Camoin house, from Lo
Scarabeo in Italy, and from Heron in Bordeaux (in my view,
the best edition).
Though both Jodorowski and Camoin
had access to many historical representations, they on
occasions times opted for the more familiar Marteau
colouring (as found in the more popular Grimaud version of
the Marseilles deck), and 'added' clarity to many
aspects which were only hinted at in the earlier versions
(such as the hind-legs of the horses on the Chariot, or
the 'snake' at the bottom of Temperance, or again the
'ramp' upon which the figure of the Star kneels upon). In
two of these and yet other cases, I personally would
have p the ambiguity to remain.
In some
instances, they have clearly drawn from an old oral
tradition, which was then incorporated their depiction, even
if it meant altering the illustration. For example,
the figure closest to the ground on the Tower is
usually depicted as falling on the rear part of the Tower,
and thus hidden. There is a tradition which mentions
that this figure is really falling out of a partially
open but out of view door. In the deck, they have
placed this door in view, thereby altering the rendition,
and removing the ambiguity as to whether the person is
falling down the side of the building, or from its (rear)
door.
In other places, they could have added clarity but
unfortunately didn't. For example, in a Schaffhouse 18th century
deck (also published as Tarot Classic by US Games), the
curved swords are clearly swords, with their hilts not
confused with the tip of adjacent blades. It should be
noted that this deck has many significant differences to
Marseilles style decks - as one example, the Hanged Man's two
legs are straight.
As mentioned above, and as in most
early French decks, the Swords are curved and crossed
when even-numbered. If odd-numbered, the pairs are
crossed and a single straight sword is placed pointing
upwards in the middle. The Staffs or Batons as straight.
In a reading, they are thus easily
differentiated.
As with all early Tarot decks (with the exception of
the Sola-Busca, which does not follow Tarot tradition
in either its Major or minor Arcana depictions), all
pip cards are ornate, but no scenes are depicted. The
suits follow the more common Tarot tradition of Coins,
Staffs/Clubs, Cups and Swords, rather than the related but less
popular Diamonds, Clubs, Hearts and Spades. The
ten-of-cups card, therefore, is illustrated ornately with ten
cups.
Some early decks, such as the Visconti-Sforza, kept
their Major Arcana cards un-numbered. Most others, as
with all the very early numbered Tarot decks, numbered
the Major Arcana using the Roman additive style (there
is thus no zero, and nine is written as VIIII). Also,
and following traditional numbering, Justice is VIII
(eight) and Strength XI (eleven).
As with the other
available Marseilles decks, this deck is a must for those
interested in symbols of perennial mediaeval esoteric
representations. For those who wish to use it as a tool for
developing the Imaginative faculty, then this is, in my
opinion, by far the best Marseilles style deck, and hence
best Tarot deck, yet available. It is certainly worth
adding to any serious Tarot enthusiast's collection.
I
would personally rate this deck, for its artistic merit,
traditional integrity, and esoteric symbolism (even in the
minutia of detail), a definite five star!
=> Camoin Tarot of Marseilles available from amoin
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