Pros and Cons Thread #2 - Enabling and De-Enabling

[FLizarraga]

The only thing that makes me hesitate is the square corners. It wouldn't matter if it were just a collectible (and I understand the historical basis for doing it), but if I wanted to use it for reading I'd have to round off those corners to facilitate shuffling. And that would feel like sacrilege.

When I trimmed one of my large Thoths I left the corners square (to better appreciate the geometric whatchamacallit thingy), and I just sanded the tips very gently with fine grit sandpaper. Done properly, it makes no difference to the eye, but your fingers will thank you.

 

[madhatter00o]

Forget it.

I mean, just forget any reservation. Everything about this deck is just perfect. The colours are gorgeously muted and delicate and fitting.

I have an extensive historical deck collection and this one is right up there. Perhaps number one. You really won't regret it.

I have nothing whatsoever in the way of de-enabling. Nothing at all. I cannot think of a more perfect historical facsimilie Marseilles deck that is so eternally endearing and expressive.

I have to agree with Le Fanu, it is a beautiful historical deck. If you want a deck that feels magical, that has all the romance of tarot intact in its printing and presentation, this is definitely one to have. The colors, the production, the details in printing, are all perfect. It's one of my favorites.

Le Fanu and treelet, thank you for your whole-hearted endorsements. It is wonderful to know beforehand that I will probably love this deck.

I guess I am always a little wary when buying a Tarot de Marseilles because the first deck I ever got was a TdM (Conver facsimile) and the line work was so poor as to be distracting. Now, I realize that all the woodblock-printed decks are like this to some extent, but I think it's alright so long as the coloring and line printing aren't offensively bad. It sounds (and looks) like the Madenie has a good balance and that the deck is made in a harmonious and pleasing style.

Consider me sold!

The reds are bright without being orange. The dark blue is muted without being dull or muddy. The yellow is golden without being garish. I don't read with colors, but even aesthetically speaking, the color choice and arrangement is the very inspiration for great reading.

There is not much else that I would ever compare if you appreciate historical decks. Just removing it from the box and unfurling its parchment wrapper . . . touching its cardstock . . . the things this deck will whisper to me. I'm getting excited just typing about it. . . .

Philistine, thank you for your notes on the coloring! This description is most helpful!

One of the reasons that I won't get a Burdel TdM is because I find the colors garish. I do think the Burdel lovely as a whole, but it's hard for me to look too long at a deck that is so bright. Knowing that the Madenie is more subdued, its warm colors neither too warm nor too bright, yet still clear and unmuddled makes purchasing this deck very comforting.

Thank you again for your insights!

The only thing that makes me hesitate is the square corners. It wouldn't matter if it were just a collectible (and I understand the historical basis for doing it), but if I wanted to use it for reading I'd have to round off those corners to facilitate shuffling. And that would feel like sacrilege.

I have the Soprafino deck, which also has unrounded corners. At first, I wasn't careful with y shuffling and poked myself many times. But, I adjusted my shuffling technique slightly to stop that happening. I think it's somewhat endearing to learn to fit myself around the deck instead of fitting the deck to me.

If you have a particular way that you shuffle that is comfortable and consistent, though, definitely take the corner rounders to it! XD

 

[Le Fanu]

I guess I am always a little wary when buying a Tarot de Marseilles because the first deck I ever got was a TdM (Conver facsimile) and the line work was so poor as to be distracting. Now, I realize that all the woodblock-printed decks are like this to some extent, but I think it's alright so long as the coloring and line printing aren't offensively bad.

I know what you mean. If it makes any difference , I also dislike decks (like that Piatnik Rhenan Marseilles) which have bits missing from the line. That really bothers me when in excess (like that deck) - but what I love about the Madenié is how it has that aged look and yet the line feels quite pristine and complete which retains the expressivenesss when reading.

The only thing that makes me hesitate is the square corners. It wouldn't matter if it were just a collectible (and I understand the historical basis for doing it), but if I wanted to use it for reading I'd have to round off those corners to facilitate shuffling. And that would feel like sacrilege.

I took the corners off mine with a corner rounder. Doesn't feel like sacrilege. Anything to make you love a deck more (but then - I confess - I have three copies so I always have another couple of copies "as intended" )

 

[Philistine]

about the Madenié is how it has that aged look and yet the line feels quite pristine and complete

I don't know quite how much Yves cleaned up (if it all) this deck, or if the faces were touched up, but his Madenié strikes the perfect balance of historical antique-y-ness and lightly polished patina suitable for modern eyes.

Another minor detail to supplement the pristine quality of the lines is the fact that the borders are almost exactly perfectly spaced all around the card, despite the woodblock imperfection of the whole. It's very subtle, but laid in a spread it does make the cards seem elegantly made for such a crude art style.

I think it's somewhat endearing to learn to fit myself around the deck instead of fitting the deck to me.

That's been my stance on oversized and "pointy"-cornered decks, too. I have a couple of severely oversized decks, and I just got over it and learned a proper overhand technique, and that applies to sharp corners, too. The eye adjusts, and square corners suddenly don't look so dreadful anymore. I *do* enjoy an evening of corner-rounding, though FLizarraga, that's clever with the sandpaper, I may have to try that at some point (no pun intended).

 

[Michellehihi]

Seriously. The pathos, the resignation to abuse and suffering and brokenness and tragedy and bullying and isolation and heartbreak that bleed from this deck are life-changing. Perhaps it's because I feel so strongly aligned to the freak side, and because I struggled with mental illness for so many years and because I am a survivor of abuse...this deck nods bleakly and knowingly at me and we have mystical conversations on the nature of Life and its one-way path through living Hell.

Thorhammer thank you for this post. I was not drawn to this deck at all, but now after reading your words, I feel like I will get it. In my family there are many people with mental health issues, and myself I once was on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Since then, I know in my blood and in my bones how fragile is mental health, how we are always walking on thin ice.... I will therefore buy it and think of my poor mother who is interned in a psychiatric hospital for so many years...
Don't you feel the same with the Deviant Moon deck? I read that the background of the cards represent psychiatric hospital, and this is why I just bought it. The more I live on this planet, the more I feel how important it is to experience all states of mind: we cannot just choose happiness and reject suffering.

 

[Le Fanu]

Oh and don't forget with the Madenié that you have that wonderful ghosting effect. The spirits of courts and the Magician etc peering over shoulders. My god I love that!

 

[Richard]

When I trimmed one of my large Thoths I left the corners square (to better appreciate the geometric whatchamacallit thingy), and I just sanded the tips very gently with fine grit sandpaper. Done properly, it makes no difference to the eye, but your fingers will thank you.

In the Houdouin Millennium, which is about the same size and shape as the Madenié, the corners have such a small rounding radius that they almost look square.

 

[FLizarraga]

In the Houdouin Millennium, which is about the same size and shape as the Madenié, the corners have such a small rounding radius that they almost look square.

I didn't mention it because Barleyville wanted not to touch the corners, but I did that to my Viéville with a 2.5mm corner rounder, to the same effect --the roundness is almost not there and does not register.

 

[daphne]

Oh and don't forget with the Madenié that you have that wonderful ghosting effect. The spirits of courts and the Magician etc peering over shoulders. My god I love that!

Intriguing. What do you mean?

 

[thorhammer]

The more I live on this planet, the more I feel how important it is to experience all states of mind: we cannot just choose happiness and reject suffering.

What a wonderful way to put it. I agree completely.

I had the Deviant Moon but couldn't stand the card stock of the first edition, so it left the nest. I'd like to get it again, in another printing, to explore this theme more. But it won't have the endearing pathos of the Phantasmagoric Theater.