Fernando Gumppenberg is considered the most ingenious innovator of playing cards during the 19th century in Italy. Born in Munich, Gumppenberg moved to Milan in 1809. Gumppenberg brought, besides experience and technical innovations, the new taste and fashion that the people in Austria and Germany had enjoyed since the second half of the 18th century.
Around 1830 he commissioned Carlo Dellarocca, a highly-esteemed designer, to innovate the classical 78-card tarot deck. Dellarocca engraved the new deck on metal plates. His work was so thorough and refined that it was regarded as one of the most beautiful Italian tarot decks.
This deck was named Soprafino (very refined). It met with such great success that it was reproduced up until the end of the 19th century, using various techniques such as engraving and lithography. The cards were delicately colored by hand with more than twelve colors.
Today, this deck has been reproduced by Osvaldo Menegazzi of Milan, Italy in a limited edition of 2,000 sets. Each deck has been packaged in a handmade box which has been covered with hand-decorated paper.
Fernando Gumppenberg is considered the most ingenious innovator of playing cards during the 19th century in Italy. Born in Munich, Gumppenberg moved to Milan in 1809. Gumppenberg brought, besides experience and technical innovations, the new taste and fashion that the people in Austria and Germany had enjoyed since the second half of the 18th century.
Around 1830 he commissioned Carlo Dellarocca, a highly-esteemed designer, to innovate the classical 78-card tarot deck. Dellarocca engraved the new deck on metal plates. His work was so thorough and refined that it was regarded as one of the most beautiful Italian tarot decks.
This deck was named Soprafino (very refined). It met with such great success that it was reproduced up until the end of the 19th century, using various techniques such as engraving and lithography. The cards were delicately colored by hand with more than twelve colors.
Today, this deck has been reproduced by Osvaldo Menegazzi of Milan, Italy in a limited edition of 2,000 sets. Each deck has been packaged in a handmade box which has been covered with hand-decorated paper.
