I don't think the WTF-ishness is from you trying to shoehorn. That 2 of Wands with Attis bleeding out (& looking bored) while his self-removed testicles sit in the grass in front of him. Yeah, no, that's an odd card for me.
(I do own the deck, though! It has the 17 surviving cards form the Estensi, and I wanted those.)
Well, since I'm not the most learned cat in the room (I'm more of the "you say decan, I hear deacon" variety) and Giordano Berti is supposed to be an expert, I tend to think other people know something I don't.
Granted, it is a thing of beauty (and a joy forever). Plus the choice of frescos for the remaining cards does give it a very satisfying cohesiveness, stylistically speaking, don't you think?
But it sort of looks like a case of "What were they SMOKING?", if you know what I mean.
You're a man after my own heart, FLiz, and it truly is surprising that with all that foil and craftsmanship, it's about the cost of an average Tarot deck. I mean, seriously? But maybe we shouldn't enable people, otherwise their prices might indeed soar if the demand for them rises too much.
I changed my mind. These decks are overrated, flaking, flimsy things, and your money will be better served buying something else.
Ha! Who are you fooling, Segismundo? Not yourself, and definitely not me...
Btw I think the Byzantine deck Le Fanu is referring to is the Golden Tarot of the Tsar by Atanassov. I have the Byzantine Tarot by Matthews, and yeah I think it will be a perfect counterpoint to the Tsar Tarot in a two-deck reading. I can't wait to try that!
Nah. If LeFanu said the Byzantine, he probably means the Byzantine. You can bet he has it. He has them ALL --seven copies of each. He probably has the original Sola Busca, and even the legendary Castle Aaargh Tarot. I imagine LeFanu having a secret Tarot vault behind a bookcase, where he goes and rubs his hands and cackles like a movie villain. Very 9 of Cups, but with more hand rubbing.
But now that you mention it, if the Byzantine is a Matthews deck, then it's not published by LS. I don't have it, though I do have the (gorgeous!) Tsar.