Kite Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (Kickstarter)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/kite-playing-cards-by-arkCustom playing cards inspired by the Chinese heritage of the kite, combining tradition, sophistication, and grace.Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Monday, October 28, 2024
In recent years ARK Playing Cards has become well-known as a creator of luxury playing cards, that are especially notable for their lavish production and creative tuck boxes. Their newest project is
Kite Playing Cards is currently being funded on Kickstarter, and continues this trend of innovation and quality.
As with many of their previous projects, Kite Playing Cards is inspired by Chinese culture, and relies on innovative printing techniques and a creative tuck case design. ARK constantly pushes the boundaries of what we've previously seen in the world of playing cards, and in this instance they've come up with a creative and foldable structure that is based on an important symbol from China's cultural heritage: the kite.
Kites date back some 2500 years to the Eastern Zhou period, and stem from a time where the papermaking industry had flourished. Civilians began using paper to cover kites, which is a tradition that continues to this day, both as a form of entertainment, as well as a source of rich symbolism.
To capture this theme, they've come up with a unique concept for the tuck box of the playing cards unlike any other we've ever seen before. When closed, it folds into the usual shape of a card box, to store the playing cards. But when unfolded it displays the classic silhouette of a swallow kite. The case even has a display stand, because you can insert playing cards into special slots in the tuck box to act as the bamboo "frame" of the kite, enabling the box to be supported and displayed.
This animated gif does a good job of showing what this effect looks like:
The design of the tuck box features the traditional Shayan kite, and decorative patterns include important symbols such as Chinese knots, flowers, koi fish, catfish, and bats.
The card backs combine bamboo strips with Chinese patterns, and hidden in the design are items like the kite's spool, as well as symbols of joy and prosperity such as seals, bats, and swallows.
The four suits all correspond to different symbols and kite shapes:
- Spades: classic Shayan kite = good fortune
- Hearts: butterfly shape = happiness and fulfillment
- Clubs: goldfish shape = abundance and wealth
- Diamonds: dragonfly shape = grace and beauty
The faces on all the cards are decorated with exquisite patterns and motifs related to kites. The court cards show figures engaging in kite-related activities such as kite flying, crafting, and weaving.
Much like we've seen with previous ARK projects, this project is available with different levels and styles of luxury packaging:
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Standard Deck (limited edition of 3333): single deck, including the creative folding kite tuck case and stand (US$30)
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Artist Boxset (limited edition of 999): holographic foil deck & monochromatic deck, in a gift box with a book (US$80)
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Walnut Boxset (limited edition of 333): holographic foil gold deck with gilded edges, plus a collectible coin, in a walnut gift box (US$185)
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Luxury Black (limited edition of 99): black-edged deck, plus an embossed metal plate (US$150, only available as part of the "All-In" reward)
Extra add-ons like uncut sheets and coins are also available separately. Here's a preview of how each of the above four packaging and deck options look.
1. Standard DeckThis is a limited edition of 3333 decks, all with individually numbered seals, and is the base level deck, but includes the creative folding kite-shaped tuck case.
Tuck case
Cards
2. Artist Box setThese 999 box sets (again individually numbered) consist of a special gift box that includes a book, and two decks: a holo foil deck (with blue gilding) in the special folding kite tuck case, and a second special deck which is more monochromatic in colour and style.
Box
Holo deck
Special deck
Book
3. Walnut Box setThe Walnut Box set is limited to 333 copies, all individually numbered, and in a multifunctional wooden box that can be set-up for a special display of the deck. The deck included is a gold deck with holographic foil and gilded edges, and there's also a collectible coin.
Box
Gold deck
Coin
4. Luxury Black setOnly 99 individually numbered Luxury Black sets are available, and you can only get this with the "all in" option. This is a black deck (with black edges) that has white artwork and design, and comes with a numbered embossed metal plate.
Black deck
Metal plate
Head over to the project page for many more pictures of these unique collectors pieces.
Kickstarter link
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/kite-playing-cards-by-ark
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