ARK Playing Cards is a luxury design playing cards producer based in Hong Kong, China. Their brand logo is, as its name, an ark - a very big ship made from gopher wood which is built by Noah under the orders of God, a ship to save Noah and his family along with a pair of each animal from the Great Flood (the story as told in the Book of Genesis). They wishes to build the most creative designer luxury playing cards with an extremely high standards. They spare no effort and devote all of their energy and passion to explore, break through and innovate, and create exciting works. Driven by innovation and creativity, distrupting tradition - ARK intends to bring amazements on every projects. Their motto is "Continuous Exploration & Infinite Innovation"
The brand is founded in 2020 by the anonymous figure who called himself "Mr. D". His identity was never revealed. The other two members of the brand are Lun Zi and Mike Lin. Lun Zi is the Design Director, who directs the designs for the decks. Mike Lin is the Product Director, who directs the packaging of the decks to create beautiful displays. They worked tirelessly on creating unique projects everytime through countless time of research and development. They printed their own decks of cards, hence they are producing everything in-house. ARK is dedicated to bring the bests of playing cards collection, and they always guarantee high expectations and full satisfaction.
Mr. D left the brand since 2021 due to physical reasons. Yet, the brand still lives on through its active members and continues to bring amazing innovations and beautiful designs with continous supports from the card community. In respect of the founder, the decks will still be crediting Mr. D onto the next projects.
Projects by ARK - PART 1
ARK Playing Cards is very well-known for their excellent craftmanship on the tuck boxes. For every projects, ARK researched, developed, designed, prototyped, and finalized unique boxes, and these designs are to combine with the main theme of the deck itself. Also comes with the excellent designs of the tuck boxes, the decks are mostly paired and comes in special packaging for deck collection displays. There are instances of decks to be a stand-alone edition, yet these will be on very luxurious packaging: in leather or wood. ARK spares no expenses on every decks they created - all the details are well-thought off and collector's satisfaction will always be guaranteed. All of their decks are produced through funding from Kickstarter.
- Card College Limited = In partnership with TCC Playing Cards, they created decks of playing cards in celebration of the works of magician Roberto Giobbi, the author of Card College - a five-volume work considered worldwide as the standard textbook on sleight-of-hand card magic. This project is created with the full approval of the magician himself. While TCC Playing Cards created the standard decks (Red and Blue) based on the illustrations of the books, ARK created the Limited Edition decks with special displays and brand new card design.
- Playing Cards = The deck's back design feature a two-way casino inspired design of Roberto Giobbi's initials within gold radiant emblem and border frameworks with stipples. All of the Aces feature enlarged pips with radiating emblem on the center. Pips are customized - an extra offset border of the pip. The courts are standard classical design. Both Jokers feature identical icons of Roberto Giobbi's initials. The gold details are done with metallic ink. Cards are printed with USPCC on their Classic Bicycle Stock with Air Cushion (Red/Green/Blue) and TWPCC on their Legendary Finish (Black/White).
- Tuck Box = The box is consisted of three parts. The main box is crafted with a pop-up message - when you are opening the flap, you can see a note open in front of you: the description about the project by Mr. D as well as the description about Card College and Roberto Giobbi. The deck sleeve is tucked into the main box - pulling it out like a drawer and you got access to the cards. The bottom sleeve is to close the tuck box entirely, which is sealed with a custom numbered sticker. The artworks are done with metallic copper foil stamping. The materials are made with premium matte stock in red, blue, green, black, or white. All of the parts of the box are assembled by hand.
- Gift Box = The Limited Edition of Card College Playing Cards is exclusively packaged in gift box sets. There are no options to get the decks individually. There are five different set boxes for this project:
- Card College Limited Wine Red/Dark Green/Indigo Blue
- Black Gold = The design for this black box set is inspired by the auto sun-roof of sports cars. It comes with a box sleeve with it's center has a circle locket-like design with a flap that opens up to reveal the information of the project. Pulling the small tab on the right side will slide the cover of the box, revealing three decks. The decks for this set will have a white and gold numbered seal - forked tip diamond with pointed end shape.
- Luxury Acrylic = Classic 3-decks display case made with acrylic panels. These panels have frosting finish, so the case looked cloudy than the usual clear acrylic cases. The lid for the case has an embedded gold coin with engraving of Roberto Giobbi's initials. Also, the case has neodymium magnets to keep the case closed. The decks for this set will have a red and gold numbered seal - rectangular with perforated edge shape.
- Walnut Deluxe = An elegant box made with black walnut solid wood. The detailed artworks covering the top of the box with full-page metal ink. It has a drawer lined with fine flannelette to protect the decks and has a polished copper small circular handle. The box contained the three decks with a black envelope that containes a card explaining the information of the project. The decks for this set will have a black and gold numbered seal - circular polygonal top with forked end shape. The cards for this set will be gilded with gold metallic foil.
- Card College Limited Midnight Black/Ice White
- Elegant = The design for this white box set is inspired by the auto sun-roof of sports cars. The box has a rectangular sleeve that shows the large initials of Roberto Giobbi. Putting the sleeve aside, there will be two square indents: one has the emblem and the other has the project's information. Gripping onto the right side of the box and slide it in the right direction will reveal two decks housed inside. The decks for this set will have a forked tip diamond with pointed end shaped seal, colored based on respective edition.
Forked Tip Diamond with pointed end shape - Deluxe Elegant = This box set is same as with the white colored Elegant box set, yet for this one, it will be in black color. It has the same mechanism of opening the box set to access the decks stored inside. The decks for this set will have a circular polygona top with forked end shape, colored based on respective edition. The cards will be gilded with gold metallic foil.
- Elegant = The design for this white box set is inspired by the auto sun-roof of sports cars. The box has a rectangular sleeve that shows the large initials of Roberto Giobbi. Putting the sleeve aside, there will be two square indents: one has the emblem and the other has the project's information. Gripping onto the right side of the box and slide it in the right direction will reveal two decks housed inside. The decks for this set will have a forked tip diamond with pointed end shaped seal, colored based on respective edition.
- Card College Limited Wine Red/Dark Green/Indigo Blue
- TEMPO = The series which is made in mind for the world of cardistry. It is made in hope to explore an unique concept of card flourishes by creating a high-quality and creative products. The design for the cards is purely graphical, as expected to enhance the visual in cardistry moves. There are two types of boxes and cards designed for this line-up. This series also introduced the concept line named "Plus" - which the decks present a brand new extreme innovation and conceives bolder design ideas.
- TEMPO Brand Premier = These are decks in TEMPO which are the standard version of this cardistry brand. It only has standard ink on the cards, with great choices of vibrant colors. These decks are made only 800 decks, making them extremely rare and significant.
- TEMPO Original = The deck features "Pantone Color of the Year 2021" - Neon Yellow.
- Tuck Box = The box features three-stage telescopic card-box structure. It extends as you pulled the top part of the box, creating an extended three-part boxes like that of a telescope. The drawer swings down to reveal the cards. It comes with a numbered seal run across the right side of the box.
- Playing Cards = The back design features a black vertical line on the center of the border with the titles of the deck. It shows a stipple square herringbone patterns done in neon yellow. All the red suits are switched to neon yellow. The courts are modified accordingly.
There is an extra edition to the TEMPO Original deck, and that is the Green one. The presence of this deck can't be explained, as one would received it as a gift from the ARK Team. TEMPO Original Green deck is only 2500 made, and it comes with a numbered seal.
- TEMPO-Lab Original = The deck features metallic colors of red and blue.
- Tuck Box = The box features a flip mechanical card-box structure - as inspired by the roof of the sports car. The cover is slided out and pulled, as the flap reveals and pushed out the drawer to access to the cards. It comes with a numbered seal in shaped of an hourglass placed on the opening of the box's drawer.
- Playing Cards = The back design features an X-Stripe Contrast between the two colors of blue and red. The X-Shape on the center has red stripes with the other has blue color. The face design has stripes on the sides of the cards, making a continuous line artwork in card fanning. The courts are modified accordingly.
- TEMPO Original = The deck features "Pantone Color of the Year 2021" - Neon Yellow.
- TEMPO PLUS = The add-on word "Plus" here means "Going Further". These decks feature mind-blowing innovations that enchance cardistry further - innovations which had spent a lot of research and developments to complete. The decks comes in with a cool gift box - a black box with with self-elevating part. As you open the lid of the box, the display part will elevate, presenting you with the deck for you to take out. The package also comes with an aluminum alloy lithium UV torch (USB cable charger included).
- TEMPO PLUS
- Tuck Box = The box features three-stage telescopic card-box structure. It features a clean white box with black and details done in holographic foil. It is seemingly just white, but when it is lit with UV light, it reveals a beautiful square herringbone patterns of green and red boxes - the box itself is also printed with UV ink on some parts. It comes with a numbered seal run across the right side of the box.
- Playing Cards = The back design features a black vertical line on the center of the border with the titles of the deck. The deck appears to only reveals the indices on the faces and the black vertical line on the back, yet UV light will reveal the actual design. Black suits are neon green, while Red suits are neon red. The courts are all faceless.
- TEMPO-Lab PLUS
- Tuck Box = The box features a flip mechanical card-box structure - as inspired by the roof of the sports car. It features the bold X-Cross shape on the box in white and black, with some details are made with holographic foil. It also features a cool innovation: photochromic ink, which will turn into purple when exposed under the sun (outdoors with sunlight) / with the UV torch (indoors with flashlight). The purple color reveals the graphical pattern of the box. It comes with a numbered seal in shaped of an hourglass placed on the opening of the box's drawer.
- Playing Cards = The back design features an X-Stripe Contrast of black, white, and purple. The cards feature double -sided, full-bleed metallic purple foil. All two sides are completely foiled, presenting the shininess when the cards are fanned and juggled.
- TEMPO PLUS
- TEMPO Brand Premier = These are decks in TEMPO which are the standard version of this cardistry brand. It only has standard ink on the cards, with great choices of vibrant colors. These decks are made only 800 decks, making them extremely rare and significant.
- Kingdoms & Kinghood = Both of these series are revolves around the theme of medieval era, the time of majestic kingdoms where there are big castles and its villages, ruled by a wise king and a beautiful queen, have valiant knights and pretty maidens. For these projects, there are three main aspects of their innovations through their independent research and development:
- The dual-sided rainbow foil printing technology, which creates the visual effects of a holographic foil. The artworks on both front and back will have these foil, enhancing the beauty of the illustrations.
- 3D relief embossing effect, which creates a raised artwork on the tuck boxes. The embossing will be the strongest three-dimensional relief, making the artworks on the boxes more popped out than ever.
- Uniqueness of package set boxes, so not only the boxes that stored the decks are for beautiful collections, yet it will also be a good display of art. The package boxes ranges from sturdy cardboards with pearlescent paper layer to lavish wooden chests.
- Kingdoms = Based on the royal theme of the 15th century and its illustrations are drawn from the luxurious style of the Renaissance period. It is a medieval kingdom that is ruled with four houses: Eagle (Spades) - Cheetah (Hearts) - Fox (Clubs) - Elk (Diamonds). The kings, the queens, and the princes are ruling over their subjects with bravery and generosity.
- Playing Cards = The illustrations are drawn using the classic Sgraffito painted technique. They are all hand-drawn first, and then using high-precision scanning to transfer the illustrations as digital images ready for print. It took 100 days to complete.
- Back Design = It is an illustration of a beautiful luxurious framework made with filligrees and architectural decorations. It is like part of the interior design of their fancy castle. The artwork is mirrored onto the box.
- Aces and Pips = The Aces feature custom illustrations of the four totems that represents the four houses. The enlarged pip with golden details within the framework and the respective animals. The pips for the numbered cards are also customized.
- Jokers = Two Jokers feature a vintage platinum key, a fine craftmanship by the blacksmith as a show of power of kingdom. One key bears the ruby gem, while the other key bears the sapphire gem.
- Courts = A set of illustrations of kings, queens, and princes on their side profiles. These profiles have background that resembles a quarter of the archway of the castle they lived in, with floral background.
- Variations = The decks comes in the main pair of Red and Blue. The standalone one is Green. The monochrome luxury set is a pair of Black and White with Holographic Rainbow foil.
- Tuck Box = The box is made with sturdy paper material with high-level technology of 3D strategic embossing. The embossing creates a relief-like finish to the elaborate artworks of the Renaissance palace of the deck's design. The title is done with beautiful gold or silver foil. The interior part of the box has fully foiled floral pattern based on the edition's color. The decks will be sealed with foiled numbered seal.
- Gift Box = Two decks are bundled into a package designed to looked like a palace inspired by the architecture of the Renaissance era. It is a Vertical Packaging Structure - the decks are displayed to stand upright. As you open up the box, it reveals the "Luxurious Palace" by taking off the "four walls". There are three parts of the gift box that constructs it to be a small palace box.
- Full-Page Foil Cover - It is made of high-end Italian iridescent paper, which is covered with hot-pressed metallic foil details. The top side will have the series title. The four sides have open windows to see the marble sculptures illustrations. The cover represents the roof and arches of the palace.
- Detachable Four Page Fold - The four-page panel fold wrapped around the box. The sturdy cardboard is embedded with magnets that used to attached the panels to the box. The panels feature the four totems of them within the intricate border for each panel. The back side of the panels is the description of the deck series. The panels represent the walls of the palace.
- Magnificent Vertical Base - The base of the box is made with sturdy material. It is designed to be a pedestal, with two slots houses the decks standing upright - to show the grand display of the beautiful decks. The base represents the throne of the palace.
- Classic Gold/Silver = The set's gift box is white with copper details for the cover and panels. The base is done in gold color. It contains the Classic Red and Blue deck. There is the Gold and Silver edition, in which the difference lies with the foil color of the deck die-cut window sleeve and text foil.
- Black Pearl = The set's gift box is black with silver details for the cover and panels. The base is done in white. It contains the Black and White deck, which applies the Dual-Sided Rainbow Holographic Foil.
- Deluxe Classic = The set's gift box is as same with the Classic Gold/Silver, only that the cover of the box will have full golden color. The decks will be gilded with metallic foil: Red has Ruby foil gilding - Blue has Sapphire foil gilding.
- Deluxe Walnut = The only exception as this set is in the wooden box made with black walnut solid wood with interior flannelette. The wooden box contains the Black and White decks that are gilded with metallic foil: Black has Gunmetal foil gilding - White has Silver foil gilding.
- Playing Cards = The illustrations are drawn using the classic Sgraffito painted technique. They are all hand-drawn first, and then using high-precision scanning to transfer the illustrations as digital images ready for print. It took 100 days to complete.
- Kinghood = In an ancient kingdom, there was a place where it is inhabited by anthromorphic creatures. This kingdom is plague with evil forces, which causes a rift between two factions. The King then assembled a group of knights in a quest to vanquished this menacing forces. It is a fierce fight between justice and malice. The artwork for this series is done by French artist Steeven Salvat.
- Tuck Box = The box is made with sturdy paper material with high-level technology of 3D strategic embossing. The front of the box shows a grand sword in its sheath done in either gold or silver. The back of the box shows an illustration of an animal knight riding the horse on a joust match - the color scheme is Red for the Gold deck and Blue for the Silver deck. Combining both boxes, and you can see an intense jousting match between two sides. There is an interior pattern foil of the box done in gold or silver foil for respective edition. Each deck has a die-cut window sleeve - the front has a window showing the sword, the back has a window viewing the jousting knight. The deck will have foiled number seal.
- Playing Cards = The artworks are full traditional illustrations done by the comissioned artist - all hand-drawn with Rotring pens and China Ink. These drawings are then scanned and digitzed in high-quality. The colored drawings are results of enhancement from the comissioner.
- Back Design = It features an illustration of the facade of an exquisite and beautiful cathedral palace within the floral intricate border. The facade drawing has a banner on top of it bearing the deck's name. This facade and the banner is then mirrored to the other side - making this deck a subtle one-way back.
- Aces = All of the four Aces feature the animal people kingdom's four coat of arms - The suits acts like uniqe-shaped shields with patterns. Surrounding the shield are two armor helmets and metal frameworks.
- Jokers and Extra = Each joker features an illustration of a knight riding a horse while holding a jousting spear. Two jokers feature a different pose, yet when hold side by side, the knights are inteacting with each other as they are bathed with sunlight. The extra card features a sword out of it's sheath, with the pommel is on the front, the blade is on the back.
- Courts = Every courts feature knights (for Jacks and Kings) and maidens (for Queens) of anthromophic animals. Each is their own character, with details describing who they are: like the brave fox who obtained the Holy Grail and the valiant lion to the beautiful rabbit and cat maiden. These characters are framed within intricate metal border behind them.
- Jack of Spades - Ram, blowing onto the curve horn
- Queen of Spades - Rabbit, playing the lute with a pick
- King of Spades - Fox, presenting the Holy Grail while holding onto his sword
- Jack of Hearts - Rooster, holding a flag banner and a scroll
- Queen of Hearts - Cat (Cheshire), posing with the folding fan
- King of Hearts - Lion, brandishing his sword from his sheath, posing like the "Suicide King"
- Jack of Clubs - Monkey (Japanese Macaque), blowing in a smoke pipe and holding a pouch of coins
- Queen of Clubs - Dog (Cocker Spaniel), combing her fur while looking at the hand mirror
- King of Clubs - Boar, carrying a banner while holding onto his sword
- Jack of Diamonds - Dog (Bulldog), carrying a double axe
- Queen of Diamonds - Doe, holding onto a flower
- King of Diamonds - Buck, carrying a halbert
- Variations = The decks come in the main pair of Gold and Silver - the back design has the gold/silver color scheme, and the illustrations for Aces, Jokers, and Courts are colorized. The luxurious pair is in Black and White, in which the artworks are treated with dual-side rainbow holographic foil on black/white background. The standalone is a monochromatic classic black and white, with red suits are colored in red - the original artworks as drawn by Steveen Salvat.
- Gift Box = Two decks are bundled together in a luxurious gift box. There are two different gift boxes for this series:
- V-Shaped Symmetry Gift Box - The rectangular box shaped stands upright with a sleeve. The box bears the series name in foil. The box opens as you pulled the two sides to the opposite direction - like a formal sense of opening ceremony. It opens like a V-shape, then it presents you with the decks.
- Multi-Layered Paper Cuts Gift Box - The box is made with high-quality matte paper. When the box is opened, the inside of the lid of the box has a papercut layered artwork of the cathedral palace as seen on the back design of the deck. It is the in-depth presentation of the anthromorphic animal kingdom's grand place.
- Classic Gold/Silver = The V-shaped Symmetry gift box is done with white pearlescent paper. It bundles the main pair of Gold and Silver deck. There is the Gold and Silver edition, which can be differentiate by the color of the foil of the red numbered seal on the Gold deck.
- Black Pearl = The Multi-Layered Paper Cuts Gift Box done in black and gold. It containes the pair of Black and White deck that uses Dual-Sided Rainbow Holographic Foil.
- Deluxe Classic = The V-shaped Symmetry gift box is done with black and gold paper. It containes the Gold and Silver deck that are gilded with metallic foil: Gold has golden foil gilding - Silver has silver foil gilding.
- Deluxe Walnut = The only exception of the gift box is a wooden box made with black walnut solid wood with interior flannelette. The box contains the Black and White deck that are gilded with metallic foil: Black has golden holographic foil gilding - White has silver holographic foil gilding.
- Light Series = Three decks series in a single project introduced that represents the past, present, and future. Each of the series introduced a special feature specifically built for them. There are two main editions for each series: the Standard Edition is limited to 1000 decks and the Gilded Edition is limited to 100 decks. These are the three series explained:
- Rebirth = Based on the Tree of Life, a sacred tree appeared in Norse mythology named Yggdrasil. This series is also inspired from the story of Noah in the Book of Genesis - when the flood receeds and life restarted with the earth once again flourished. It symbolizes hope and the beginning of new life. The design adopts the shape of the leaves and the writing posture of flames, extending outward from a central point.
- Tuck Box = The box features double 3D embossing on foiled pearlescent paper stock. The artwork features a golden tree run across from the front to the back of the box. Aligning three of the same boxes, and you can see a flourishing tree of life. The tree is in gold foil with purple/platinum white background filled with embossed leaves and flames. The numbered seal is placed on the bottom of the box.
- Playing Cards = The cards are printed in Taiwan on crushed stock. It is available in the main pair of Platinum White and Purple. The Collector's Set features more new colors, up to 12 different colors: Pink - Red - Orange - Green - Teal - Blue - Silver - Pearl White - Black - Platinum - Gold - Bronze.
- Back Design = It features an intricate border consisted of leaves and flames, composing around the border and onto the circle center through the diagonal line. It is a composition of blooming tree on top of a colored leaves pattern background.
- Jokers = Each of the Joker features the half illustration of the tree of life. Combining them and you can see a diptych illustration of the tree of life.
- Aces = All of the Aces feature enlarged customized pip. The pips are a composition of leaves that formed to create the respective suits.
- Courts = The royals are drawn with a lot of details, especially on their royal garments and the weapons or flowers they are holding. Following up to its theme, their garments and items are composed with leaves or flames.
- Reminisce = The intention for this deck is to pursue the pureset state of the playing cards. It adopts the design dated back from 1831 to 1870, when playing cards have no corner indices and the courts are full-body illustrations one-way direction. It is a recollection of how playing cards were used to be "toy of the nobles" which becomes popular among the common people, and after a hundred years have passed, cardistry becomes the streamline in the world of playing cards. It's a silent memoir to the past millenium, embraced as a luxury design for cardistry.
- Tuck Box = The tuck box is made with high-quality pearlescent paper with gold/holographic foiling details and artwork embossing. The front side features the name of the deck, while the back side features the mirror of the card back design. The numbered seal is located on the bottom of the box.
- Playing Cards = The cards are printed in Taiwan on Crushed Stock. The deck is available in Red (red, blue, and yellow color scheme) and Green (green and purple color scheme). Later, an extra edition is added - Holographic (pink and teal color scheme with holographic foil).
- Back Design = It is an abstract art of leaves spiralling towards the center of the card. The line details of the leaves are done in gold color. This abstract art is centered with a thin border.
- Jokers = Both features an identical artwork of a spiral slide with a clown doll on the end of the slide. This might be represents the "toy" mentioned in the series concept.
- Aces = The Ace of Spades feature a single spade pip surrounded withint a formation of leaves that forms the bigger version of the suit. There is a small ball on top of the suit's tip. The other Aces just feature a single pip on the center, yet those cards appeared to have been stamped with something:
- Ace of Hearts, the circular central elements of the abstract art with the deck's name
- Ace of Clubs, the brand's producer name
- Ace of Diamonds, year 1870-2020
- Numbers and Pips = The pips are standard and the arrangement of them is also standard. As it adopts the design of the past, there are no indices throughout the deck.
- Courts = The courts are based on the one-way full lenght illustration of royal members of the courts found within the decks from the past. Yet, they are drawn as a collective of lines and and curves - as abstract arts of the characters. Even with the abstact nature of the illustrations, you can recognized them easily as the courts design from years past.
- Vertical = Inspired from the visual image of 'criss-cross weaves', the deck represents the future of playing cards - it being sharp and flamboyant. Specifically designed for cardistry, the deck features mostly graphical and minimalistic design.
- Tuck Box = The box features an atypical-structured design. It is designed like a slided drawer on your hands. There is a sliding slot part where you can push and pull one-handed with the thumb, opening and closing the box. It opens up like a box of cigarettes, yet it is mechanical. The box is made with premium stock with German Kurz stamping of holographic foil. The numbered seal is located on the bottom of the box.
- Playing Cards = The cards are printed in Taiwan on Crushed Stock. The deck is available in the main color of Red and Black.
- Back Design = It features the graphical artwork of X-shaped. It has an adept and concise composition. On each side, there is the crystal shape with the word "Vertical" in it.
- Front Design = Most of the design are minimalized yet graphical from the classical design. The pips are turned into geometric triangular shapes. The courts are drawn as blocky characters without faces. The grey color of the artworks is using silver metallic ink. On every cards, there are two broken border lines, which will make a good fanning visual.
- Rebirth = Based on the Tree of Life, a sacred tree appeared in Norse mythology named Yggdrasil. This series is also inspired from the story of Noah in the Book of Genesis - when the flood receeds and life restarted with the earth once again flourished. It symbolizes hope and the beginning of new life. The design adopts the shape of the leaves and the writing posture of flames, extending outward from a central point.
- Time Machine = Based on the acclaimed science-fiction novel written by H.G. Wells in 1895 - "The Time Machine". The story sparks people's imagination on time travel and the invention of such machine. This series depicts the time machine in its own form, creating elaborate contraptions and innovations along with the theory of traveling through time on decks of playing cards and their gift boxes.
- Tuck Box = It is crafted as an elaborate contraption - it's an uprecedented multi-page self-turning mechanism. Pulling the gears tab down and witness how the pages flip up, while pushing the gears tab up and witness how the pages flip down. The box features the artwork of an artistic rendition of the time machine - a technological vintage pendulum analog clock with hourglasses. Observe as the pages flip showing the device broken into scraps and then magically restored. Travel to the future or return back in time to the past AT any time! The box has a small bottom sleeve to keep the pages closed. The cards are contained in a deck drawer pulled from the bottom of the box.
- Playing Cards = The illustrations for the deck invokes the fusion of baroque-style design and steampunk elements. The meticolous details are incredible, made with countless hours of traditional drawings.
- Back Design = It is the illustration of the steampunk clock with complex mechanisms. The center alongside with the top and bottom has a clock face. On each corner, there is a grandfather clock with a hourglass on top of it. There is a set of gears behind the time pieces within the ornamental border. Every card has a slight difference in the artwork - creating a flip-book animation of the clocks turning their metal pointers as the pendulum swings.
- Ace and Pips = The enlarged pip consists of fears and mechanism, as if it is the heart of the machine. The rest of the pips are wrapped with golden filligrees. The Number cards are using standard pip arrangements.
- Jokers = The Jokers featured the technological feat of the time machine device as shown on the box. One Joker shows the machine in its complete working state, the other Joker shows the machine in its destroyed crumbling state - with the shadows of the previous state of it.
- Courts = The royal courts are appeared to be animatronics. They are made of gears and machines, their bodies are steel. Their faces don't have eyes, hence creating the holes to peek inside the rotating gears of their interior mechanism.
- Variations = It's a combination of colored or B/W artworks on either standard white background or fully foiled metallic background.
- Classic = Colored Artworks with Black Color Scheme Back Design - B/W Artworks with White Color Scheme Back Design.
- Black Gold = B/W Artworks on Black/Silver - Foiled
- Wooden Case = B/W Artworks on Gold - Foiled - GILDED Gold Holo Sparkle
- Wooden Frame = B/W Artworks on Copper - Foiled
- Gift Box = Each set comes in a pair of two decks of contrasting color schemes. The most limited yet luxurious sets would only have one deck, yet the display will be grand. One of the set contains an exclusive customized coin. These are the various sets available for this series:
- Build-In Unique Mechanism Display Box = The box is made with high-quality cardboard. The lid of the box has a beautifully embossed foil emblem. The inside of the lid is a kirigami frame containing the set information. As the lid is open, there are set of gears rotating the Sun and Moon: it's the Gears of Time. Flip the gears up and there is the famous quote by George Orwell about time: "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.". The two decks are nested on the base as you flipped the gears to the lid.
- Classic = The gift box is in black color with gold accents. The Gears of Time is in gold color. It contains Black and Champagned Edition decks.
- Dark Flare = The gift box is in black color with silver accents. The Gears of Time is in silver color. It contains Black Silver and Bright Silver Edition decks.
- Wooden Case = The box is made with solid walnut wood and the lid has a large engraved metal plate attached on it. The interior is covered with flannelette that houses both the deck and the coin. There is a piece of letterpressed print card that contains the information of the set.
- Containes Gold Foil deck with Gold Holo Sparkle gilding
- Custom-engraved commemorative coin made of antique brass featuring Wise Father Time.
- Wooden Frame = The table-standing wooden frame is crafted to display one single deck housed onto the flannelette interior. The frame is made with European White Oak wood. The back side has a metal bar stand screwed on the bottom side.
- Containes Copper Foil deck
- Build-In Unique Mechanism Display Box = The box is made with high-quality cardboard. The lid of the box has a beautifully embossed foil emblem. The inside of the lid is a kirigami frame containing the set information. As the lid is open, there are set of gears rotating the Sun and Moon: it's the Gears of Time. Flip the gears up and there is the famous quote by George Orwell about time: "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.". The two decks are nested on the base as you flipped the gears to the lid.
Time Machine - Wise Father Time Coin
The coin's front side shows the side profile of the Wise Father Time - back side shows the gear fan mechanism of the machine.- Antique Brass Coin = Only available in Deluxe Wooden Set
- Antique Silver Coin = Available as a standalone add-on with a small case made of wood with acrylic plate closed with magnets
- Four Divine Beasts = It is a group of four celestial creatures that appear among the Chinese constellations along the ecliptic. They are viewed as the guardians of the four cardinal directions. The Four Divine Beasts are culturally important accros countries in the East Asia region. These are the four creatures who are the guardians of the four main directions of the world:
- Azure Dragon = In Asian mythology, dragon is a mythical creature acts as a symbol of prosperity. It is depicted as a flying serpent with scales and it has eagle-like talons, horns and a pair of long whiskers. Azure Dragon is the guardian of East and it represents Spring.
- Black Tortoise = A giant tortoise with a very hard shell. Despite the name, it usually appears with a snake entwined around its shell. There was a legend where it is said that a tortoise couldn't mate with the other turtles, only snake - hence the depiction would always be two animals. The tortoise is believed to be a symbol of longevity, and it influences ancient Chinese to built turtle-shaped tombs. Black Tortoise is the guardian of North and it represents Winter.
- Vermillion Bird = A brilliant peafowl with colorful and vibrant feathers. It will soars up high in the sky, presenting the beauty of its appearance in different hues of vermillion (red orange). It shares the same looks as the legendary immortal bird Phoenix, as both are might birds with unspeakable powers and act as a symbol of elegance and nobility. Vermillion Bird is the guardian of South and it represents Summer.
- White Tiger = The majestic tiger with white fur. According to legend, the tiger's tail would turn white when it reached the age of 5000 years, so white tiger becomes a kind of a mythological creature. As it is rare in occurence, one would hardly see them roaming. It was said that white tiger would only appear if there was peace throughout the world or if the emperor rurled with absolute virtue. As it was considered to be "King of the Jungle" in Asian culture, the tiger is a symbol of power and respect. White Tiger is the guardian of West and it represents Autumn.
- Tuck Box = It is made with pearlescent coating stock with 3D embossings. There are two parts of the tuck box for this project: the main box and the kirigami-style artwork. The main box has die-cut windows on both the front and the back. The front side has a big window frame that shows the name of the beast. The back side has a small circle window that shows the Yin and Yang symbol. The kirigami-style artwork consists of 7 layers of cut artworks, 5 of the layers will form the 3D artwork of the Beast. The layers are pieced together to form an accordion, and then placed inside the main box. Both elements create a spectacular masterpiece. The layered artwork expands and compressed when you retrieved/inserted the cards into the box.
- Playing Cards = The cards are printed in-house with imported high-quality Italian black core stock and finish. The design features Chinese oriental elements following the majestic nature of the Four Divine Beasts.
- Back Design = It features the illustrations of two-way Beasts with the Tai Chi Yin and Yang symbol on the center framed within a black border wrapped with golden vines. The back design is mirrored on the tuck box.
- Aces = All of the Aces feature custom illustrated enlarged pip on the center.
- Ace of Spades = The power pip features the Beast within the black border of the pip wrapped with golden elements.
- Other Aces = It is the extension of the golden vines and black frames in shape of each respective suits - the frame is red for the red suits.
- Pips = Customized artwork, miniature version of the power pips featured on the Aces. The arrangements of the pips for the Number Cards are standard.
- Jokers = Both cards feature an identical illustration of the Chinese Yin Yang Tai Chi model, shaped to looked like Chinese armor. One card features the Sun symbol, the other card features the Moon symbol - representing the duality of Sun and Moon.
- Courts = They portray a group of generals and officers of different military ranks framed in black border wrapped in golden vines. Each of them are holding traditional Chinese weapons:
- Spades - Spear / Lance / Sword
- Diamonds - Halberd / Bow / Axe
- Clubs - Warhammer / Glaive / Trident
- Hearts - Dagger-axe / Dual Swords / Crescent Blade
- Variations = It's a combination between Colored or B/W artworks on top of full background color with standard or foiled finish.
- Classic = Colored Artworks on Black/White - Standard
- Black Gold = B/W Artworks on Gold/Silver - Foiled
- Wooden Case = Colored Artworks on Green/Blue/Red/Platinum White(???) - Foiled - GILDED Emerald/Sapphire/Ruby/Silver (???)
- Wooden Frame = Colored Artworks on Gold-Coffee - Foiled
- Gift Box = Each set comes in a pair of two decks of contrasting color schemes. The most limited yet luxurious sets would only have one deck, yet the display will be grand. One of the set contains an exclusive customized coin. These are the various sets available for each Beast:
- Self-Elevating Display Box = The box is made with high-quality cardboard wrapped with textured paper complete with foiled details. As the box is opened, the display part will be raised, showing the beautiful decks in front of you. The inside of the lid will have the information, while the display base holds the two decks. Both sides have a kirigami-art border of black frame with golden vines.
- Classic = The gift box is in white color with black title. The kirigami art border is black with golden vines. It contains Black and White Edition decks.
- Black Gold = The gift box is in black color with gold foil title. The kirigami art border is in silver. It contains Gold and Silver Edition decks.
- Wooden Case = The box is made with solid wood and it is symmetrically designed to be a shrine cabinet. The box is completed with a metal engraved emblem on the lid which bears the name of the Beast. Opening both doors and you are presented with the deck sitting on the flannelette interior at the base of the shrine. The left door has the information of the set. The right door has the extra item that only comes with the set - a custom-engraved commemorative coin made of antique brass featuring the titular Divine Beast.
- Azure Dragon = Walnut case, contains Green Foil deck with Emerald gilding
- Black Tortoise = Cherrywood case, contains Blue Foil deck with Sapphire gilding
- Vermillion Bird = Palisander case, contains Red Foil deck with Ruby gilding
- White Tiger = Beech case, contains Purple Foil deck with Amethyst gilding
- Wooden Frame = The table-standing wooden frame is crafted to display one single deck housed onto the flannelette interior. The frame is made with European White Oak wood. The back side has a metal bar stand screwed on the bottom side.
- Contains Gold-Coffee Foil deck
- Self-Elevating Display Box = The box is made with high-quality cardboard wrapped with textured paper complete with foiled details. As the box is opened, the display part will be raised, showing the beautiful decks in front of you. The inside of the lid will have the information, while the display base holds the two decks. Both sides have a kirigami-art border of black frame with golden vines.
Four Divine Beasts - Beast Coin
The coin's front side shows the engraving of respective Divine Beast (Azure Dragon - Black Tortoise - Vermillion Bird - White Tiger) - back side shows the Tai Chi symbol of Yin and Yang.- Antique Brass Coin = Only available in Deluxe Wooden Set
- Antique Silver Coin = Available as a standalone add-on with a small case made of wood with acrylic plate closed with magnets
- The Illusionist and After Sound = Both of these series revolves around the wonders of stage theathers, designated spaces for performances of any kinds. People would gathered inside the large room to be seated on the rows of seats or by the balconies, waiting for the show to start. There is that awesome feeling of watching performances live before your eyes. For these projects, there are three main aspects of their innovations through their independent research and development:
- Theathre theme illustrations and Tuck Box, the illustrations for the both the cards and the box are fully hand-illustrated. The tuck box features an original pop-out artwork of the theatre constructed from parts and structured brilliantly - each series has their respective theatre and what performance live on the stage.
- Unique Wooden Box display, the wooden box for respective series has an unique feature respective to the theme itself - it isn't only just storing and displaying the deck and the coin.
- Research and Development of the foiling process, the cards are fully foiled with colored foil - it has a top-of-the-line texture with excellent feel and handling.
- The Illusionist = Based on the wonders of magic, a performance art with a long and rich history. Inspired by "Ansiktet" ("The Magician") - 1958 Swedish film centered around a traveling magician, the deck presents a group of performing magicians in the beautiful classical vintage magic stage. Since playing cards is the first thing that comes into mind when magic is mentioned, this series brings the theme perfectly. Prepare to be mystified by the conjurers, as it is showtime!
- Tuck Box = The box is made with high-quality pearlescent paper stock with detailed levels of embossing. It features the intricate and detailed hand-illustrated artworks of a Western-style detached building of a grand theathre. The entrance presents the big signboard with the figure of the magician on the top floor, the splendor of the window sill, the ticket locket and the magic posters on the wall. Opening the flap of this artwork, and you are entered into the magic theathre, presenting a stage showing a magician performing the famous trick of "Sawing the Lady Assistant in Half". The extra box sleeve inserted on the main one will be encasing the deck of cards.
- Playing Cards = The deck of cards feature hand-illustrated artworks of magic theme. It represents the long history of magic condensed into 56 cards. The artworks would have blue colored details, such as the color of the pillars and walls of the theatre to the magic props to the magician's ties and ribbons.
- Back Design = It features a two-way illustrations of the magic theathre. The stage is full of detailed ornaments based on the vintage magic theathres down in the Golden Age of Magic. There is the magician standing on the stage with the small round table and a flower vase, ready to create some miracles.
- Extra Card = It features a vintage stand holding onto the magician's briefcase and the top hat. The bottom part is a credit to Mr. D.
- Jokers = Both cards feature a diptych artwork of the "Sawing the Lady in Half" magic trick, one of the most popular illusion performed by magicians on stage. The lady is the magician's assistant, wearing a beautiful dress and a rabbit mask. She is making a balloon dog while inside the case. As you join or seperate the cards, you are acting as the magician doing the trick yourself!
- Ace of Spades = The enlarge Spade pip is formed by a lot of magic props used to create magic. The small round table with the magician's trunk on top of it. There is a magic wand and a few of cups and balls. At the bottom base of the round table, there are hooks that hanged the metal rings with pigeons perked on them.
- Pips and Numbers = The pips are customized with ornament in the inside of the pips. The arrangement of the pips for the Number Cards are standards.
- Courts = They portray a group of magicians, both men and women, performing miracles with their hands. The Kings feature the enigmatic wizard with his bushy beard and wearing a dashing suit with the iconic top hat. The Queens feature the beautiful mistress showing her skills. The Jacks feature the dashing young men charming the audiences with his charismatic performances.
- Jack of Spades - producing many cards
- Queen of Spades - producing balls
- King of Spades - producing smoking pipes
- Jack of Hearts - summon a pigeon
- Queen of Hearts - summon a parrot
- King of Hearts - summon a rabbit from the hat
- Jack of Clubs - producing canes
- Queen of Clubs - producing folding fans
- King of Clubs - producing lit candles
- Jack of Diamonds - connecting 6 rings
- Queen of Diamonds - connecting 2 rings
- King of Diamonds - connecting 8 rings
- Variations = There are combinations of colored or B/W artworks on standard or foiled background. The very exclusive deck will be gilded.
- Classic = Colored/Black&White artworks on egg shell white background - Standard
- Dark Flare = Colored artworks on black/silver background - Foiled
- Deluxe Wooden = B/W artworks on gold background - Foiled - GILDED Gold Holo Waves
- Luxury Leather = Colored artworks on blue background - Foiled
- Gift Box = There are four tiers for this series. Two of the tiers are sets that contain a pair of two decks. The other two tiers are exclusive sets that contain a single deck. Each of the tier has an unique package box.
- Classic = White cardboard box covered with high-quality pearlescent paper embellished with white and dark patterns. The cover of the box has an embossed gold foiled logo of "The Illusionist". The box has a certificate of authenticity. It contains Color with Champagne Edition decks.
- Dark Flare = Black cardboard box using high-quality material. The box is shaped to be like a cabinet, with the lids opened up to the sides. The gold plate logo acts like a clasp to the box. The lids interior hold on the decks while the base has a paper craft borders that encased the certificate of authenticity. It contains Holo Black and Gold with Holo Silver Edition decks.
- Deluxe Wooden = The box is made with solid walnut wood inlaid with a gold engraved plate of "The Illusionist". To fit up with the theme, the box is designed as a "Trick Drawer Box". Opening the drawer and there is nothing inside, yet with a magical wish, you produce the contents of the drawer! It has a certificate of authenticity placed in the drawer. It contains Gold Edition deck. Also, it has a custom engraved coin made in antique gold.
- Luxury Leather = The display box is made with textured leather colored blue. On the cover, there is the hot foil stamp of "The Illusionist" logo. It contains Special Blue Edition deck.
The Illusionist - Magician Coin
The coin's front side shows the magician levitates the lady and passing a loop through her - back side shows the Ace of Spades engraving- Antique Gold Coin = Only availble in Deluxe Wooden Set
- Antique Silver Coin = Available as a standalone add-on with a small case made of wood with acrylic plate closed with magnets
- After Sound = Based on the Peking Opera, a quintessential national culture of China. It is the most popular show around China which combines music, vocal performances, mime, dance and acrobatics. It is named After Sound (余音) based on the lingering sounds made from the music and performance within the theatre. Peking Opera mostly telling some of fantastical stories within Chinese mythology. Now, sit tight and prepare to be mystified by the excellent performance of protected Chinese heritage.
- Tuck Box = The box is made with high-quality pearlescent paper stock with detailed levels of embossing. It features the intricate and detailed hand-illustrated artworks of a Eastern-style traditional building of a grand theathre. The tiled roofs, the golden sign with Chinese letters, some Chinese ornaments, and hanging round lanterns, every details are there to present oriental designs of the theathre. Opening the flap of this artwork, and you are entered into the opera theathre, presenting a stage showing a show at play. The extra box sleeve inserted on the main one will be encasing the deck of cards.
- Playing Cards = The deck of cards feature hand-illustrated artworks of Peking Opera theme. It represents the full heritage of this popular form of Chinese cultural entertainment into 56 cards. The artworks would feature red colored details, such as the curtains of the stage and the ornaments of the costume.
- Back Design = It features a two-way illustrations of the Peking Opera stage. There are lots of detailed in the artwork: such as the golden dragon statues and the tiered roofs and gold signs and red curtains and tassels. There are two performers playing on the stage, doing a classic scene from the play <"Farewell My Concubine">. It's a complete homage to this Chinese entertainment.
- Indices, Pips, and Numbers = The indices are made in form of a royal scroll, and the suits are embeeded in a small tassel pendant under the scroll. The pips have ornamental elements inside, and the arrangement of the pips are customized.
- Jokers = One depicts a writing brush holder, and the other one is a weapons rack. These both are a metaphor that the cooperation between the military and the government administration is what makes a country stable.
- Aces = All of the Aces are based on the cloud-shaped shoulder adornments of the opera performer's costumes, with the auspicious Chinese characters of "Fu Lu Shou Xi" (福禄寿喜) which represents Luck, Good Fortune, Longevity, and Happiness.
- Courts = They feature classical characters that often appear in traditional Peking opera plays. These characters come from their respective plays in this traditional heritage Chinese performance.
- Jack of Spades - Zhao Yun <"The Battle of Changban Slope">
- Queen of Spades - Yang Yuhuan <"The Drunken Beauty">
- King of Spades - Zhang Fei <"The Battle of Changban Slope">
- Jack of Hearts - Lu Bu <"Lu Bu and Diaochan">
- Queen of Hearts - Mu Guiying <"Mu Guiying Take Command">
- King of Hearts - Guan Yu <"The Hua Rong Path">
- Jack of Clubs - Lu Wenlong <"Eight Hammers">
- Queen of Clubs - Concubine Yu <"Farewell My Concubine">
- King of Clubs - Ziang Yu <"Farewell My Concubine">
- Jack of Diamonds - Sun Wukong <"The Palace of The Dragon King">
- Queen of Diamonds - Zhong Lichun <"The Meeting at Xiangjiang">
- King of Diamonds - Dou Erdun <"Sitting in a Village and Stealing a Horse">
- Variations = There are combinations of colored or B/W artworks on standard or foiled background. The very exclusive deck will be gilded.
- Classic = Colored/Black&White artworks on egg shell white background - Standard
- Dark Flare = Colored artworks on black/silver background - Foiled
- Deluxe Wooden = B/W artworks on gold background - Foiled - GILDED Gold Holo Strokes
- Luxury Leather = Colored artworks on red background - Foiled
- Gift Box = There are four tiers for this series. Two of the tiers are sets that contain a pair of two decks. The other two tiers are exclusive sets that contain a single deck. Each of the tier has an unique package box.
- Classic = White cardboard box covered with high-quality pearlescent paper embellished with white and dark patterns. The cover of the box has an embossed gold foiled logo of "After Sound" in Chinese letters. The box has a certificate of authenticity. It contains Color with Champagne Edition decks.
- Dark Flare = Black cardboard box using high-quality material. The box shares the similar design with the Classic box, yet the opening mechanism is different. The lid opens upward supported with ribbon hinges. The inside of the lid encased the certificate of authenticity behind the paper craft borders. It contains Holo Black and Gold with Holo Silver Edition decks.
- Deluxe Wooden = The box is made with solid walnut wood inlaid with a gold engraved plate of "After Sound". It is a self-raising clamshell-style box. The inside of the wooden box has an extra tray hinged onto the mechanism, which houses a custom gold coin tucked in its flanellete. This coin is attached with a Mystical Knot Tassel. The certificate of authenticity is glued on the bottom base of the coin tray. It contains Gold Edition deck.
- Luxury Leather = The display box is made with textured leather colored red. On the cover, there is the hot foil stamp of "After Sound" logo. It contains Special Red Edition deck.
After Sound - Chinese Medallion Coin
It is shaped like the traditional elegant Chinese coin - there is the small square hole. The coin's front side shows the decorative patterns of ancient Chinese chainmail with the Chinese characters (余音绕梁) (Translation: Reverberates around the rafters (idiom)) - back side shows the cloud-shaped shoulder adornments of the opera players.- Antique Gold Coin = Only available in Deluxe Wooden Set, the coin is attached with a Mystical Knot Tassel
- Antique Silver Coin = Available as a standalone add-on with a small case made of wood with acrylic plate closed with magnets
