Murphy’s Magic – Aton Tamarisk Classic (White) Playing Cards, by Balthasar Epprecht, Switzerland, Egyptian mythology, vector art, graphic design, USPCC, Kickstarter 2021, limited edition of 1500, unnumbered, borderless, hieroglyphics, sun god, ancient culture. Brand new, sealed.

Description

– Launched Jun 2021 on Kickstarter, 409 backers contributed CHF 14,519 or approx SGD$20,634, out of CHF 6,600 goal, to bring this project to life.
– Check out the super cool timelapse video of the artist’s creative process

– and the YouTube review by VJose32

– Available editions :
1. Aton Tamarisk Classic (White)
2. Aton Ebony Classic (Black)

🪐 There are so many details in the design that I highly recommend you visit the Kickstarter page here. The more I read, the more I love these cards. What a talented and inspired designer!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/epprecht/aton-playing-cards/

🪐 Back in 2016, I started designing Aton Playing Cards as a private project to merge my two passions for Egyptian mythology and graphic design. I wanted to create a playful yet sophisticated design that balances the fine line between modern-minimal and classical Egyptian art style. After completing a first version of the then called Wadjet Playing Cards (unreleased), I closed the project with a few individual prototypes.

🪐 As I rediscovered the cards during lockdown 2020, I began to take on some minor changes and introduce a few new ideas to the design. No sooner had I returned to this project than I was filled with verve and eager to rework the whole design.

🪐 DELUXE tuck boxes feature matte colored paper stock with embossing and gold foil. Embossing on the tuck box alludes to relief sculpture, an art technique used by ancient Egyptian artists to emphasise the three-dimensional structure of the depicted gods and godesses. The gold foil accentuates the highly detailed design and refers to the gilded artworks of ancient Egypt.

🪐 CLASSIC (printed) tuck boxes feature a sleek and modest design. Inspired by the frugal use of color in hieroglyphic wall inscriptions, they pull the attention towards the richly colored cards inside.

🪐 The tuck and back designs are inspired by the winged sun disk, the Egyptian symbol of divinity, royalty and power. The disk represents the sun god ATON himself. He is protected by the two goddesses Wadjet (serpent) and Nekhbet (vulture), the patron goddesses of upper and lower Egypt.

🪐 Each suit represents one of the four major aspects of life in ancient Egypt. They’re embodied by the three deities on the corresponding court cards.

🪐 The red suits represent the two positively connoted aspects of life. Hearts refer to the origin and integrity of Life. Here we find the creator, the protectress and the reviver. Diamonds represent the power of Wisdom, Skill and Magic. The corresponding gods have to rely on physically stronger deities for protection so they can carry out their duties.

🪐 The controversial aspects of life are represented by the blue suits. Spades are associated with Strength, Violence and Destruction. They feature the most powerful and reckless deities of ancient Egypt. Clubs represent the many facets of Death, including the rites and challenges a decedent undergoes after his/her death.