Playing Cards: Switzerland

Jass Deck

The collection is indebted to Mr. Eugen Bruhin who helped identify the deck pictured above. The deck was acquired in 1976. The deck is designed for the Swiss game of Jass. The entire deck is not pictured, nor is the flap-top box (9cm long x 6cm wide x 1.5cm thick) which holds the cards. The manufacturer's name is printed on the sides of the box and one side illustrates the blue and white back of the cards.

Each of the 36 cards in the deck is 8.7cm long x 5.6cm wide and are gilded at the edges. The suit markings on this deck are different from German, Italian, or French suit markings. the suit markings are:

Each suit includes a KING (K), OVER-KNAVE (O), UNDER-KNAVE (U), numbered cards 6 through 9, a banner card (the number 10), and a "duce". Suit symbols are in the upper left and right corners with court figure names. Duces have large suit representations. Swiss Deck

The deck pictured above, although purchased in Milan, Italy, is in the "Lombard Style" and popular in the Italian speaking parts of Switzerland and in the bordering areas of Italy. To complicate matters - it uses the French suit patterns. The deck was acquired in 1978.

The flap-top box (pictured on the right of the photograph) is 9.5cm long x 5.6cm wide x 1.6cm thick. The back of the box has a sample of the card backs - which are pictured along side of the box. There are 40 cards in the deck. Each card is 9.3cm long x 5cm wide - a narrow card in relation to decks from other European countries.

The numbered cards are one through seven. Manufacturer's information is on the two of diamonds. The court cards are double headed and have distinguishing designs. For example, a falcon or parrot perches on the hand of the King of Diamonds. A crowned serpentine monster appears on the chest of the Jack of Clubs.

NOTE: This page was originally created and posted on the Web on March 26, 1995. Subsequently it has been modified and periodically updated. Last update: June 14, 2010