Grimaud - 104 "Paris"

8/19/2026

Grimaud - 104 "Paris"

INTRODUCTION & IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

Today we examine a deck featuring the Paris pattern, a 19th-century French derivative of the Spanish National pattern conceived for foreign export. A concise historical background on this style was covered in an earlier post, linked at the bottom of this entry.

This particular pack was produced by the celebrated French maker Grimaud under the reference 104 Paris. The tuck box features the inscriptions "48 NAYPES REFINOS" and "PUNTA REDONDA DORADA", the same wording previously seen on their Moroccan-pattern model. In fact, both cases are virtually identical, save for the added "Paris" designation used to specify the variant.

ICONOGRAPHY & DESIGN

As noted, the Paris pattern is a direct offshoot of the Spanish National pattern, to the point where the two can easily be confused at first glance. The primary differences lie in specific traits: the Knave of Coins features a dog tied to a post, and the Kings sport thick beards while wearing noticeably shorter tunics. In certain variants of this pattern, female riders or equestriennes can be found on the Knights, although this particular deck retains the traditional male figures.

Moreover, some distinctive features of this pattern are worth highlighting:

The Ace of Batons, gripped by a hand at its base. An iconographic detail reminiscent of certain tarot decks.
The 4 of Swords, featuring two hands holding branches (possibly palm fronds).
The upward-pointing arrows on the Ace, 2, and 3 of Batons, a motif also shared with Aluette cards.

In this model, the 4 of Coins incorporates a sea-horse, a nautical motif that reinforces its overseas focus, with South America as the most probable export destination. This illustration also appears in the Moroccan-pattern deck produced by the same maker. As a matter of fact, both packs share an identical color palette, restricted to red, yellow, and blue, which, paired with the structural similarities in the artwork, could easily lead one to mistake one for the other at first glance.

RÍO DE LA PLATA TIES & HISTORICAL LEGACY

Regular readers may feel a sense of déjà vu with these illustrations, and with good reason: they are essentially the same as those found in the Tatú (Estilo París) pack. Except for minor variations in the color palette and subtle details on the court cards, both models are nearly identical, the most striking difference being the absence of the sea-horse in the Tatú model.

As we discussed in that review, this pattern became deeply rooted in Uruguay, where it has remained in continuous use to this day. Another eloquent testament to its strong foothold in the Southern Cone is that several French manufacturers went so far as to stamp the Sol de Mayo (an unmistakable national emblem of Argentina and Uruguay), onto the pips of the suit of Coins.

MATERIALS & FINISH

Pinpointing the exact date of manufacture is difficult, as the pack lacks any dates, tax stamps, or inscriptions to guide us. However, the smooth matte varnish and the off-white tone of the cardstock (which also remains in excellent condition) suggest the early to mid-20th century, likely no later than the 1950s.

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I conclude this entry by encouraging the reader to examine this pack alongside both the Tatú and its Moroccan-pattern sibling. A side-by-side comparison proves just as engaging as the standalone analysis: akin to comparing an American jaguar with an African leopard, an apparent initial uniformity quickly yields to subtle morphological nuances that allow one to fully appreciate the distinctive identity and value of each specimen.