La Corte dei Tarocchi from Il Meneghello

[Raggydoll]

I’m just curious to hear if anyone else has this quirky little deck, and if so - what you think of it?! I bought mine from Tarot BG earlier this year but haven’t gotten around to using it yet. But I have decided to dedicate more time to this deck in the upcoming months as I feel that it is perfect for this time of the year.

 

In case anyone wonders, this is a limited edition deck that was created by the Italian artist Anna Maria D’Onofrio. The deck has very unusual proportions and extra thick cardstock. And there is a strong artisan feel of the whole thing.

 

What made me buy this deck was the unusual and quirky artwork. I mean, how adorable are they not? I’m gonna add some pictures of my favorite cards so you can see what I mean. I have the full set of 78 cards (I believe a ‘majors only’ version also exists). The minors are pip-ish but they do not follow any tradition system (that I am aware of). So it makes it extra playful as it enables you to do your own thing. I feel that this whole deck has a soft and sweet energy. Someone called it a benign deck, and I totally get what they meant by that!

 

I think I am going to start with just the majors and see how we get along. All majors-readings can be really interesting in my opinion! I might also add the courts and the aces before working with the complete deck. This also makes it easier on my hands as this deck is quite thick and hard to shuffle in its entirety!

[Raggydoll]

Some courts  :)

[Raggydoll]

What the box look like

[Raggydoll]

This sun card has a fun twist to it. And that mustache !!  :))

[Raggydoll]

A close look at the ‘scary cards’. Looks like Death is dancing  :))

[PathWalker]

Yes indeed, I have and love this deck  :)

It always had something of a "Noggin the Nog" vibe to me - a UK tv children's series from the 60's - although I don't know why. It's a great deck.

[Raggydoll]

Yes indeed, I have and love this deck  :)

It always had something of a "Noggin the Nog" vibe to me - a UK tv children's series from the 60's - although I don't know why. It's a great deck.

 

Thank you! I googled that show and I see what you mean! Cool  :) Do you use the whole deck for your readings? And if so, whats your preferred method of shuffling? And whats your experience with the pip-cards. Do you feel that they fit into any system or do you go by intuition?

[Raggydoll]

And also, do you have any favorite cards?  :D

[PathWalker]

Yes I use the whole deck for readings, and I treat it pretty much like reading with a Marseille type.

I always shuffle overhand (can't riffle even if I wanted to) and so I shuffle them gently by hand, using the short end rather than their sides as they're so long.

 

I recall I used them for a world tarot day reading once, 42 cards laid out on a very big towel (You perhaps have to be a Douglas Adams fan to get the gist of this) but I needed a very big towel LOL

[PathWalker]

And also, do you have any favorite cards?  :D

 

To be honest I have quite a lot of decks, so I'd have to go and get this one out and look through it to tell you that. Like you, I do like the Death card in this one. I always like the Hermit in most decks  :)

[Raggydoll]

I too have a lot of decks and thats why I am trying to go through them now and see what decks that I have been neglecting. The Hermit is great in this deck. I mean, all those unique facial expressions...  <3 I think I'm gonna do a deck interview later and see how we get along  :).

[Eugenie]

@Raggydoll, @PathWalker, can you please share your impressions? It is on my wishlist, and I am wondering if it is convenient to use and sturdy? I know that @Misterei also has this deck and praised it. I am certainly not running to buy, but I am very curious and would be very grateful for your comments.

[gregory]

It's sturdy - all Meneghello decks are. I love it, too - and now that you say Noggin the Nog - I SO get that and I love it even more. It isn't the easiest to shuffle - but I imagine if you have mastered the overhand shuffle it would be fine. That for me always means cards under the table and all over the place..

Edited December 29, 2023 by gregory

[Raggydoll]

26 minutes ago, Eugenie said:

@Raggydoll, @PathWalker, can you please share your impressions? It is on my wishlist, and I am wondering if it is convenient to use and sturdy? I know that @Misterei also has this deck and praised it. I am certainly not running to buy, but I am very curious and would be very grateful for your comments.

I ended up selling mine. I tried several times to use it but I did not like the very thick cardstock and the odd format, it made the deck hard to handle. So it wasn’t for me. But the artwork was lovely! 

[fire cat pickles]

I do like this deck but it is difficult to riffle shuffle,  which is my preferred method. I like the quasi-TdM feel to it. It's a nice alternative to the traditional when I'm in the mood. It's definitely not an an every day deck. Unfortunately it's more of a collector's item or art deck, IMO. Aeclectic has a decent review if you're interested,  although you're probably seen it already:

https://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/corte-tarocchi/

[Eugenie]

@gregory, @Raggydoll, @fire cat pickles, thank you very much! So it a beautiful and sturdy deck, but I have read many people mentioning that it wasn't for everyday or even that they weren't reading with it at all. I have seen the excellent AT review and the de-enabling thread there, too (it was hilarious at parts!) but thought I'd ask you, too. 

 

Maybe I will reward myself with this deck at some point. For the time being, I can look at the photos online. 

[Misterei]

2 hours ago, Eugenie said:

 .... can you please share your impressions? It is on my wishlist ...

Le Corte dei Tarocchi is a deck I never read with [yet] but I ADORE the art.

It's an homage to old school Tarocchis and quirky modern at the same time. It's minimalist with a muted but pleasing color palette.

I like the long thin cards ... again the proportions are homage to antique hand made decks.

Paper is thick and matte, box is sturdy.

I might someday scan a card or 2 and have them printed large as wall art. They are that lovely.

 

I don't read with it b/c it would be difficult to shuffle and whatnot .... but I know I COULD read with it.

It vibes like an old school Tarocchi deck and I resonate with those decks for reading.

[Eugenie]

@Misterei, thank you! I do keep looking at this deck, I think I won't stop liking it. So I might reward myself with it at some point. I am sure it is even better in person when you can see all the details and touch that matte paper. 

[Guest]

It's got this neat Byzantine vibe to it, something which I'm a fan of. It's adorable. Never had a deck with cards shaped like bookmarks, but it's something I can work with. 

[Eugenie]

8 hours ago, Akhilleus said:

It's got this neat Byzantine vibe to it, something which I'm a fan of. It's adorable. Never had a deck with cards shaped like bookmarks, but it's something I can work with. 

 

Yes, they look adorable. I bet they are much better in real life because you can feel and see their texture and depth of color. 

[Misterei]

11 hours ago, Akhilleus said:

It's got this neat Byzantine vibe to it, something which I'm a fan of. It's adorable. Never had a deck with cards shaped like bookmarks, but it's something I can work with. 

Huh. I didn't think Byzantine at first ... but now that you mention it ...

Being Greek I adore Byzantine art ... maybe this is part of my subconscious attraction to the deck

[Pierre-Yves]

I've just received this La Corte dei Tarocchi tarot deck. And I find it absolutely delicious. The packaging with the Il Meneghello wax seal is a reminder that this is a precious work of art. I love the naivety and humor of the images, which, together with the medieval imagery, take me back to the enchantment of children's books. The cards were made using etching, a process I'm not very familiar with, but which gives a very original texture.

 

The game is handmade and the cards are named in Italian, which makes it truly unique. I'm very proud to have copy 1569/2000 of the 4th edition. 🙂

[Chariot]

2 hours ago, Pierre-Yves said:

I've just received this La Corte dei Tarocchi tarot deck. And I find it absolutely delicious. The packaging with the Il Meneghello wax seal is a reminder that this is a precious work of art. I love the naivety and humor of the images, which, together with the medieval imagery, take me back to the enchantment of children's books. The cards were made using etching, a process I'm not very familiar with, but which gives a very original texture.

 

The game is handmade and the cards are named in Italian, which makes it truly unique. I'm very proud to have copy 1569/2000 of the 4th edition. 🙂

Oh, my.  Just looked it up on the Il Meneghello site, where it's available for 45 Euros.  I am SO tempted....

[Pierre-Yves]

The only downside (perhaps it's already been mentioned) is that very thick cards with square corners are difficult to shuffle. But I forgive them, that's part of their charm.

[Ferrea]

This is such a lovely deck. If there were such a thing as a "soul deck" for me, La Corte dei Tarocchi would probably be it.
I’ve used it quite frequently and have gotten the hang of shuffling it. I just recorded my technique, maybe it’ll help those who find it difficult to handle.
The clip also includes three ways to shuffle large decks (starting at 1:19). I read that @TarotNewbie101 finds her favourite deck a bit cumbersome.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 20 by Ferrea