Handmade Russian Prison Playing Cards, Complete 32 Card Deck mid-century modern ceramic but a super special one

but a super special one

This and the rest from what I understand came from a  sketchbook of drawings Malta did in the 1930s or so

I am uncertain of the date (number on the bottom refers to the form

I think perhaps the game is to find the exact position of the figure that will counterweight the wooden bits on the ends and allow him to balance in the air while they sit flush to the surface of a table

It seems quite possible a teacher outlined the bird in pencil first

Handmade Russian Prison Playing Cards, Complete 32 Card Deck mid-century modern ceramic but a super special oneI learned about the existence of Russian prison playing cards from Eric Oglander at tihngs, who has sold a few decks, and I wanted to hold a deck in my hands. They're pretty amazing. This complete 32 card deck plus two blanks came straight from Russian, and I know from the seller that they were made in IK 19 prison in Kazan in 2010. These, from what I understand, were not made by prisoners to sell, but rather are made as a single deck to use inside,